Investigation on risk factors of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Xuancheng City in Anhui Province, Mainland China

Abstract

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a rodent borne disease, is a major public health concern in both developed and developing countries. China is the mos t severe endemic country in the world, constituting 90% of the cases. Although the incidence of HFRS has substantively decreased in most areas of China, HFRS has rebounded remarkably in some epidemic areas. Xuancheng is one of these areas. In this present study, w e collected the case data reported recently in Xuancheng and designed a 1:3 case control study. The Chi square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed . In all cases, farmers made up the highest proportion of oc cupations. And there were 20 variables with statistical significance including indoor hyg i enic conditions; the surrounding environment; whether bitten by rats at work and other criteria. In addition, exposure to rodents and rats bites is a high risk factor for HFRS. Rodent density was calculated a t 20.9% (159/760), the virus carrier rate was 9.4% (15/159) and the index of rats with a virus was about 2.0%. Exposure to rodents and insect bites is also high risk factors for HFRS among local residents in Xuanch eng. More importantly, during the flood years, the increased density of rodents led to an increased risk of human exposure to rodents. As our statistical analysis proves, targeted strategies should be developed and implemented to reduce the incidence of lo cal diseases in the future.