Measures of infection source control of schistosomiasis and their effects in Four-lake regions of Hubei Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of a new schistosomiasis control strategy based on the infection source control in four-lake regions of Hubei Province. Methods The new strategy based on the infection source control included the safe water sup-ply,feces harmless treatment,replacing cattle with machine,captive livestock,chemotherapy,Oncomelania hupensis snail con-trol in susceptible areas,hardening ditches,etc,and the new control strategy was implemented for 7 years in 9 counties(cities or districts)of the four-lake regions. The schistosomiasis situations were investigated before and after the intervention of the new strat-egy. Results The coverage rates of feces harmless toilets(three format toilets),biogas digesters,and safe water supply were 42.00%,23.16% and 93.76%,respectively. The number of ditch hardening was 1 960;the area of eliminating snails was 1 378.42 hm2;the number of persons who received the health education was 3 524 818 accounting for 92.17%of the total popula-tion;the number of person-time of taking active protection measures was 516 636 963. The average annual decline rates of schisto-some infection were 24.42%and 38.38%in residents and cattle,respectively. The endemic villages decreased by 4.77%,the vil-lages with snails decreased by 7.05%,and the villages with snails accounted between 63.19%and 66.21%of the total endemic vil-lages. The area with snails decreased by 90.35%,and the advance schistosomiasis patients decreased by 5.55%,and the fatality rate of advanced schistosomiasis patients decreased by 1.24%. No acute schistosomiasis patients occurred. Type One and Two en-demic(heavy endemic)villages decreased to zero;Type Three endemic(moderate endemic)villages decreased by 10.22%;but Type Four endemic(mild endemic)villages increased by 66.38%;and Type Five endemic(no endemic for 5 years)villages de-creased by 0.22%. The standards of schistosomiasis transmission controlled have achieved on schedule. Conclusion The imple-mentation of the new schistosomiasis control strategy based on the infection source control in four-lake regions of Hubei Province can effectively control schistosomiasis.