Abstract:

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics and patterns of other infectious diarrhea in Hunan Province from 2014 to 2023 for scientific basis to propose targeted prevention and control strategies and measures. Methods The case data on other infectious diarrhea and public health emergencies (referred to as events) reported in Hunan Province from 2014 to 2023 were retrieved from the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The results were then analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methods. Results From 2014 to 2023, a total of 286 300 cases of other infectious diarrhea were reported in Hunan Province. The average annual incidence rate was 42.37 per 100 000 population, and 3 deaths were reported. By temporal distribution, there were two high-incidence periods. The main high-incidence period was from December to March of the following year, during which a total of 129 831 cases were reported (45.35%), and the secondary high-incidence period was from June to September, during which a total of 83 744 cases were reported (29.25%). By regional distribution, the incidence rates were higher in the eastern and western regions of Hunan, with average annual incidence of 68.05 per 100 000 population and 62.33 per 100 000 population, respectively. By population distribution, the cumulative cases were 160 980 for males and 125 320 for females, with an average annual incidence of 46.41 per 100 000 population and 38.15 per 100 000 population, respectively. Children under 6 years old were the main affected population, accounting for 65.14% (186 500/286 300) of the total reported cases. Among different occupations, the incidence was the highest in children living at home, in whom a total of 175 640 cases (61.35%) were reported, followed by farmers, with a total of 46 172 cases reported (16.13%). From 2014 to 2023, a total of 119 other infectious diarrhea events were reported in Hunan Province, of which 107 (89.92%) occurred in schools or kindergartens, and 86 events (72.27%) were caused by norovirus. Conclusion The high-incidences of other infectious diarrhea in Hunan Province are in winter and summer seasons. The key prevention and control population is children under 6 years old living at home, and schools or kindergartens shall be the pivotal prevention and control sites for other infectious diarrhea events. Before the high-incidence season, targeted prevention and control measures such as health monitoring, food/water source safety supervision, and health education should be implemented for key populations, key regions and key venues.

Key words: Other infectious diarrhea, Epidemiological characteristics, Public health emergency, Hunan Province