ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and identify the underlying risk factors among drug users in Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province during 2009‒2020. MethodsA consecutive cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 400 drug users in correctional settings were randomly selected from April to August. The drug users were interviewed with a questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics， AIDS-related knowledge， detoxification service， drug use， and sexual behavior. Blood samples were then collected for anti-HCV antibody testing. Chi-square test and multivariate conditional logistic regression were used. ResultsA total of 5 042 drug users were included in this study. Seroprevalence of HCV was determined to be 22.7%. From 2009 to 2019， the seroprevalence showed a significant downward trend， from 34.9% to 8.8% （χ2=221.025， P<0.001）. However， in 2020， the seroprevalence was 12.7%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that senior age （≥25 years old）， cohabitation， taking traditional or mixed drugs， injection drug use， and needle sharing were risk factors associated with HCV seroprevalence. ConclusionSince 2009， HCV seroprevalence among drug users in Taizhou City has shown a downward trend， however， it has increased slightly in 2020. It warrants strengthening prevention and treatment measures in response to risk factors related to HCV infection among drug users.
ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the clinical features of sporadic patients with H7N9 avian influenzain Taizhou city of Zhejiang province and to characterize its viral genes.Methods Fifteen patients with H7N9 influenza infection confirmed by Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention during January 201 4 and January 201 5 were included in the study.The basic diseases,poultry exposure history,clinical manifestation,laboratory examination,imaging features,treatment and outcome and viral gene sequencing were analyzed retrospectively.Results The first clinical symptoms were fever and cough in all patients,acuterespiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)occurred in 1 3 patients,the average time from onset to antiviral therapy was (7 ±2)d.Among 1 5 patients,9 survived and 6 died,including 2 died of multiple organ failure (MOF).The phylogenetic tree showed that there was highly homologous in hemagglutinin (HA)and neuraminidase(NA)genes between human H7N9 virus strains and poultry reference strains.The result of genetic sequencing indicated that human H7N9 virus strains had mutations at 226 (Q226L)sites in HA protein.Conclusions ARDS is likely to occur in patients with H7N9 viral infection,and early antiviral treatment usually leads to a good prognosis.With the occurrence of adaptive mutation in avian influenza virus H7N9,spread from poultry to the human beings may take place.