ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of food-borne diseases in Wenchang， Hainan Province， and to analyze the suspected food exposure sites and sources so as to provide scientific data for early prevention. MethodsThe data of food-borne disease cases， including basic information， time， population， region， suspected exposed food， etiology， etc.， from the sentinel hospitals of the surveillance systems in Wenchang from 2017 to 2021 were statistically analyzed. ResultsA total of 2 219 food-borne disease cases were collected from 2017 to 2021. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.2：1， and there was no significant statistical difference （χ2=5.732， P>0.05）. Cases were mainly concentrated in children aged <7 years （43.26%）， followed by 7 to 18 years （15.41%）， 19 to 30 years （11.72%） and >60 years （11.36%）， and there was a significant statistical difference （χ2=168.125， P<0.001）. The highest number of cases were found in preschool children （36.05%）， followed by students （17.49%） and farmers （16.18%）. The peak incidence occurred from July to November （54.44%）. The suspected exposure foods reported in the monitored cases were mainly vegetable foods （17.49%） and mixed foods （17.08%）. The exposure sites were primarily households （76.30%） and catering services （13.56%）. The positive rate of pathogens was 12.26% in 1085 tested samples， and there was no statistically significant difference in the annual detection rate （χ2=1.086， P>0.05）. The main pathogens of food-borne pathogens were Salmonella （9.95%）， followed by norovirus （2.03%） and rotavirus （0.28%）. ConclusionThe surveillance of foodborne disease cases in Wenchang shows seasonal peak patterns according to population and pathogen epidemiological features. The main affected groups are preschool children， students， farmers， and the elderly. The exposures are mainly related to vegetable foods and mixed foods in households and catering service establishments. Efforts should be made to strengthen food safety awareness， health education， and supervision targeting residents and food operators in order to reduce the incidence of foodborne diseases in the Wenchang area.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To understand the current epidemiological status of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hainan island and provide the scientific evidences for prevention and control of the disease.@*METHODS@#The investigation on nature infection condition of intermediate hosts and final hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis were carried out in five counties, Hainan Province, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect antibodies of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in human hosts.@*RESULTS@#A total of 1612 molluscs were examined, 21.3% of which harbored L3 of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Among them, the infection rates of Pomacea canaliculata, Achatina fulica, Cepaea and Phlegm bilineatus were 12.36%(64/518), 22.66%(121/534), 20.93%(9/43), and 28.24%(146/517), respectively. Of the 118 rats trapped, 13 Rattus norvegicus were found to be infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. A total of 459 serum samples were collected and tested. 92 serum samples were Angiostrongylus cantonensis antibody-positive.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The survey revealed a wide distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hainan island. Pomacea canaliculata and Achatina fulica are main intermediate hosts of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Rattus novegicus is a nature definitive host, indicating that a considerable number of people are at risk of angiostrongyliasis. Health education, rigorous food inspection and surveillance are all needed to prevent angiostrongyliasis outbreaks in future.