Outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis in Anhui province in 2003 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the outbreak patterns of acute schistosomiasis in Anhui province in 2003.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The criteria of emergency event for schistosomiasis issued by the Ministry of Health were applled in this study. Epidemiological data of acute schistosomiasis outbreak in Anhui province in 2003 were collected, checked and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 2003, there were 6 episodes of acute schistosomiasis outbreaks in Anhui which had met the criteria of being emergency events, issued by the Ministry of Health. The preplanning was initiated in 5 outbreaks to respond to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis. All of the acute schistosomiasis cases received timing treatment, except those misdiagnosed cases coming from the non-endemic areas. There were no deaths or follow-up cases during the outbreaks. Health education, preventive treatment for people living in high risk villages were conducted in order to timely control the epidemics of schistosomiasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The implementation of preplanning has played an important role in early cases-finding, timing report and response to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis.</p>

Ecological surveillance on breeding ground for Oncomelania hupensis snails in the areas prevalent with islet-type schistosomiasis using remote sensing technology / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe rational indices suitable for ecological surveillance on breeding ground for Oncomelania hupensis snails in areas prevalent with islet-type schisitosomiasis using remote sensing technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three adjacent islets, prevalent with islet-type schistosomiasis, along the Yangtze River within the boundaries of Dongzhi County, Anhui Province were selected as study field for remote sensing analysis. Multi-spectral data were composed and non-supervisedly classified in computer with Idisi software for remote sensing analysis. Values of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green vegetation index (GVI), bright index (BI), which reflect the greenness and brightness of landscape, were also calculated. Finally, all the results were comprehensively analyzed, combined with data from the field investigation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NDVI, GVI and BI could depict characteristics of the landscape quantitatively. Values of NDVI, BI and GVI were varied in different types of landscapes, and 95% confidence interval of these values suitable for breeding of snails was 0.0522 approximately 0.3566, 2.4162 approximately 28.2672 and 29.3404 approximately 40.3135, respectively. Classification of NDVI showed that type 5 anf type 6 were main breeding ground for snails, and type 4 with values of NDVI from 0 to 0.1 was potential areas for snail propagation. Classification of GVI showed that types 5, 6 and 7 were main breeding ground for snails, and also type 4 with values of GVI from 2 to 10 was potential areas for snail propagation. Both NDVI and GVI showed type 2 and type 3 were temporarily not suitable for snail breeding.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Index figures of NDVI and GVI re-formed by reasonable classification could reflect not only breeding ground for snails and range of the areas for snail propagation in islets, but also their evolving rules, i.e., status of new marshland formation and vegetation growth.</p>