STUDIES ON EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND CONTROL STRATEGIES OF SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN BEACH REGIONS OF CHANGJIANG RIVER / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on the studies of epidemiological factors and optimum control strate-gies of schistosomiasis in beach regions of Changjiang River in Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces in 1991 - 1995. The results demonstrated that the infection sources are varied in the beach re-gions.The essential ones contributed to schistosomiasis transmission are cattle,pig and man. People contact with infested water via production and daily activities ; naturally, the mode of infestation is different with areas. Generally ,swimming is the most intense pattern of con-tact.The distribution of infected Oncomelania snails is related to the kinds of vegetation and frequency of man and animal activities,presenting a negative binomial pattern. The presence of endemic area is closely associated with the degradation /formation and alteration of beach.The water level of Changjiang River and precipitation are important factors influencing the prevalence of schistosomiasis of the regions. Judging from the comparative studies of eral strategies on the basis of snail and schistosomiasis control effects as well as cost-effec-tiveness,the authors suggest that to keep pace with the major target of "diseasa control".the optimum strategies against schistosomiasis in the beach regions of Changjiang River should be chemotherapy of man and farm animals and health education. Additionally ,transformation of beach should be taken into consideration provided funds are sufficient. In areas where schistosomiasis has been basically under cotrol,the strategies of "repeated examination and treatment of man and farm animals and elimination of foci of infected snails " and " Chemotherapy of target population and cattle plus health education plus elimination of snails in high risk areas plus individual prevention / protection" are recommended, so as to consolidate the previous achievements.