ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the current measure of Oncomelania hupensis control in Jiangsu Province. Methods The snail control was carried out with molluscicides in the high transmission areas every year. Some snail habitat areas were modified. The snail areas within three years were re-treated with molluscicides in the maintenance phase. The snail survey was carried out every spring, and the data were analysed with SAS software. Results From 1995 to 2001, 14519.17 hm 2 of snail habitats were molluscicided, 2768.57 hm 2 were modified, and 8803.64 hm 2 were re-treated with molluscicides in the maintenance phase. The coverage rates of snail control areas dropped by 19.14% every year. The snail areas increased by 6.25% every year from 1995 to 2002. In which, the areas of infected snails increased by 18.52% every year. The correlation analysis showed that the areas of infected snails increased with the increasing of the total snail areas. At the same time, the areas of infected snails increased with the fall of the coverage rates of snail control areas. The analysis of the snail distribution showed that the main problem was poor snail control. Conclusion In recent years, the rise of area of snail habitats is serious in Jiangsu Province. The present measures of the snail control have not effectively stopped the spreading and increasing of snails. The research on the new molluscicides, the new methods of snail control and the better policies are very important.