Epidemiological analysis on scrub typhus in China, 2009

Objective To analyze the epidemic feature of scrub typhus in China and to provide scientific basis for control and prevention of the disease.Methods We collected the data from National Disease Reporting Management System to describe time,region,and population distribution of scrub typhus,and to analyze the prevalence trend of scrub typhus in China.Results In 2009,totally 3 235 patients were reported and these patients distributed mainly in Yunnan,Guangdong,Fujian,Shandong,and Anhui province.The peak of onset was during June to September in southern parts of Changjiang River but during October and November in northern parts of Changjiang River.Of the patients,48.72% were female;the persons aged 70-74 years had the highest incidence rate (0.47/100 000),followed by the persons aged 60-64 years (0.44/100 000)and the persons aged 65-69 years (0.42/100 000).The patients were mainly peasants(64.23%)and children(9.64%).Conclusion The reported scrub typhus patients were gradully increasing in recent years,with summer type of scrub typhus in the south of Changjiang River and autumn-winter one in the north of Changjiang River.