Effect of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the epidemiological characteristics of scarlet fever in Shanghai City / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the changes in the epidemiological characteristics of scarlet fever cases in Shanghai City before and after the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to provide a reference for scientific prevention and control of scarlet fever.Methods:The information of scarlet fever reported cases in Shanghai City from January 2016 to June 2021 in the information system of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control was collected, and the differences in time trend, regional distribution, age and gender distribution of cases before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Shanghai City were analyzed by descriptive epidemiologic method.Results:The incidence rate of scarlet fever reported in 2016-2019 was (0.22-4.02)/100 000 in each month, with a median of 1.13/100 000. During January 2020 (the outbreak began in Shanghai City) and June 2021, the incidence rate of scarlet fever was (0.01-1.64)/100 000, with a median of 0.14/100 000, which was 12.39% of that before the outbreak of COVID-19. During February and June 2020, the monthly reported incidence rate of scarlet fever was (0.18-0.58)/100 000, showing an upward trend compared with the same period in 2020 ((0.01-0.05)/100 000). From 2016 to 2019, the annual reported incidence rate of each district was (0.55-65.48)/100 000, with a median of 9.57/100 000; while in 2020, the annual reported incidence rate of each district was (0.29-9.85)/100 000, with a median of 2.18/100 000, which was 22.78% of that before the outbreak of COVID-19. The incidence of scarlet fever dropped significantly. The incidence rate in Minhang District was still the highest. The cases were mainly four to eight years old, and there was no substantial difference of the proportions before and after COVID-19 pandemic, with the incidence rate of six years old group the highest. The proportion of male was more than female in reported case, while the male ratio in reported cases was not significantly different before and after COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions:The incidence rate of scarlet fever in Shanghai City has dropped sharply after COVID-19 pandemic. The main epidemiological characteristics of the regional and population distribution of cases remain unchanged.