ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the spatial distribution of measles from 2013 through 2015 in Liaoning province,China and to provide references for measles control and prevention. Methods The GeoDa 1.4. 6 program was used to conduct exploratory spatial data analysis to identify the spatial distribution characteristics and pattern of measles in Liaoning province. Results The frequency analysis showed that the measles epidemic situation appeared to have significant positive skewing within 105 counties of Liaoning province in each year from 2013 through 2015. The global trend analysis indicated a balanced trend in 2013 and 2015,and that the high incidence measles areas were located in the eastern and northern provincial regions in 2014. The global Moran'sⅠwas 0.294 5,0.391 9,and 0.147 7,and general G values were 0.015 9,0.012 0,and 0.013 5,revealing a positive spatial autocorrelation and a high-high aggregation model for each year between 2013 and 2015. The local spatial autocorrelation analysis recognized 5 core areas and 25 hot-spot counties with a high incidence of the measles epidemic,mainly distributed in Shenyang,Fuxin,Tieling,Fushun,Benxi,Liaoyang,Panjin,and Huludao. Conclusion Measles cases were clustered geographically in Liaoning province from 2013 through 2015. Spatial epidemiology methods may offer insights for the epidemiologic study of measles.