Epidemic characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease in mainland China,2008-2010:a cluster analysis

ObjectiveTo analyze prevalent characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in mainland China,2008-2010.MethodsThe epidemiological characteristics of HFMD was analyzed by using cluster analysis on the data for the number of reported cases and the incidence of HFMD in different month,age group and province collected from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention.ResultsIn mainland China from 2008 to 2010,the monthly distributions of HFMD cases in a year were categorized into 2 disordered clusters(April to July and other months) and 3 ordered clusters(January to March,April to July,and August to December); the age distributions of HFMD cases were categorized into 2 disordered clusters(1-3 years old and other ages) and 3 ordered clusters(<1,1-3,and ≥4years old); the provincial distributions of average incidence of HFMD during the 3-year period were divided into 4 clusters(I:Anhui,Hunan,Jiangsu,Shaanxi,Ningxia,Fujian,Inner Mongolia,Henan,Shanxi,Jilin,Hubei,and Liaoning; II:Guangdong,Tianjin,Hebei,and Shandong; III:Gansu,Chongqing,Jiangxi,Guizhou,Qinghai,Heilongjiang,Yunnan,Sichuan,Tibet,and Xinjiang;and IV:Beijing,Hainan,Guangxi,Shanghai,and Zhejiang).The monthly distributions of reported HFMD cases among various provinces were categorized into 4 clusters(I:Tibet; II:Hainan; III:Tianjin,Liaoning,Heilongjiang,Jilin,Shanxi,Xinjiang,Gansu,Inner Mongolia,and Ningxia; and IV:all other provinces).ConclusionThere are obvious differences in temporal,spatial,and population distribution for HFMD epidemics in mainland China.