[Evaluation on effect of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate the effect of the program of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2013. METHODS: The fund investment of the program, the profits of hospitals and the improvement of the patients' health were investigated by data collection and questionnaire survey. The evaluation index system of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis in Hunan Province was constructed by the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process, and the program was assessed comprehensively. RESULTS: The evaluation index system including 6 primary indices and 33 secondary indices was established. Among all the primary indices, the score of the treatment and assistance (22.25) was the highest, and that of the satisfaction assessment (8.15) was the lowest, and the score of the comprehensive assessment was 87.06. The average cure rate of the patients was 13.08% from 2004 to 2013. More than 60% of the patients' disease condition got better, and nearly 70% of the patients' psychological condition improved, and more than 70% of patients' self-help ability and social contact improved, as well as family happiness increased. In addition, the annual average cost for caretakers decreased by 2000 Yuan, and the profits of all the fixed-point hospitals for treatment and assistance increased. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness and efficiency of the treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Hunan Province is obvious, and the government should continuously invest in the program.

[Distribution of susceptible areas of schistosomiasis outside embankment in Hunan Province, 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current distribution of susceptible areas of schistosomiasis outside embankment, so as to provide the evidence for making comprehensive measures in Hunan Province. METHODS: The outside embankment areas where Oncomelania snails possibly or historically distributed and people and animals had activities were surveyed. The schistosomiasis information of the susceptible areas was collected, a database was set up, the positions were marked with GPS, an E-map was drawn with Google Earth, and the distribution was analyzed. RESULT: The number of marshlands with schistosomiasis susceptible areas outside embankment was 787, the length was 1,429.64 km, and the area was 6,2017.17 hm(2). The average density of living snails was 0.37 snails/0.1 m(2), and the average density of infected snails was 0.0019 snails/0.1 m(2). The infected snails were found in 180 marshlands, and the area was 688.07 hm(2). Sixteen rivers had the susceptible areas, and the main vegetation was weeds. CONCLUSIONS: The susceptible area of schistosomiasis outside embankment is wide and complex. Therefore, the comprehensive control measures should be strengthened.

[Changing trends of main endemic indicators of schistosomiasis in Dongting Lake area].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the main endemic indicators and their changing trend of schistosomiasis since the founding of new China for 60 years in Dongting Lake regions. METHODS: A variety of archival data on schistosomiasis epidemiology and control were collected, and several mathematical models were applied to estimate the main endemic indicators of schistosomiasis. RESULTS: Compared to those in 1950s, the infection rates of schistosomiasis among human and cattle in 2010 were declined by 89.3% and 94.7%, respectively; the number of schistosomiasis patients was reduced from 600 thousand to 88 thousand; the number of acute schistosomiasis patients dropped from 2 732 to 18; and that of advanced schistosomiasis patients decreased from 55 thousand to 5 632. CONCLUSIONS: The high priority by government authority, suitable control models according to local conditions and huge resources are the cornerstone of success on schistosomiasis control in Dongting Lake regions.

[Endemic features and control strategies of schistosomiasis in Dongting Lake area, Hunan Province, P. R. China].

This paper describes the epidemic status and current endemic features of schistosomiasis in Dongting Lake area and analyzes the achievements and weakness of various control measures. It also summarizes the characteristics of epidemic situation in the Dongting Lake region, which indicates the long-term and the arduous work in the future for the control of schistosomiasis. In strategy, comprehensive measures should be implemented and routine prevention control work should be remained combing with the control of transmission sources.

[Survey on Oncomelania snail distribution in sluices in Dongting Lake region].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution, classification and reformation of all sluices located in the Dongting Lake region, and found out the relationship between irrigation and Oncomelania snail diffusion. METHODS: The information of sluices and their reformation were collected from the local Department of Water Resources and the information of snail conditions collected from the Department of Schistosomiasis Control. The latitude and longitude of each sluice were pinpointed and record with GPSmap76. All the data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: There were a total of 589 sluices in the Dongting Lake region including 190 Kejinluo sluices (snails might enter through the sluice, 69 were reformed) and 49 Jinluo sluices (snails could enter through the sluice, 8 were reformed). The occurrence rate of snails was higher in water sluice than in drain sluice, and there was a significant difference between them (P < 0.05); the occurrence rate of snails in the sluice was higher when there were snails outside the sluice than when there was no snails outside the sluice, and there was a significant difference between them(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The main source of snails in the sluice is from the outside of the sluice and irrigation is the main way that snails spread into sluice. The sluices should be reformed effectively, and the snails inside and outside sluice should also be destroyed effectively in order to consolidate the effect of snail control inside the embankment.