Abstract:

Objective To investigate the epidemiological features of public health emergencies arising from intestinal infectious diseases in schools in Hunan Province for scientific evidence to formulate effective prevention and control measures against the urgent events. Methods The information on public health emergencies associated with infectious diseases reported in schools in Hunan Province was collected from 2004 to 2022, and analyzed pertinent to the time, regional and population distribution using descriptive epidemiological method. Results From 2004 to 2022, a total of 329 public health emergencies caused by intestinal infectious diseases in schools were reported in Hunan Province. In total, 14 506 cases were reported, yet no death occurred. The incident level was generally at grade Ⅳ (225 events, 68.39%) and ungraded (99 events, 30.09%). Of the 5 types of diseases involved, other infectious diarrhea was most seen (153 events, 46.50%), followed by hand-foot-and-mouth disease (82 events, 24.92%). The number of incidents was the highest in 2018 (50 events, 15.20%), and higher time distribution was from March to June and September to December. The emergencies were reported in 14 cities (prefectures) across the province, with the highest incidents (60 events,18.24%) and cases (3 251 cases, 22.41%) reported in Changsha. Most of the incidents occurred in kindergartens (91 events, 27.66%), followed by in elementary schools (86 events, 26.14%) and junior high schools (41 events, 12.46%). The attack rate in the three types of sites aforementioned was higher in rural area than in urban area. The main causes of public health emergencies from intestinal infectious diseases in schools were involved in transmission from close contact (40.73%, 134/329) and contamination of water source (25.23%, 83/329). Delayed report would result in longer duration of the incident (r=0.88, P< 0.01). Conclusion The key institutions for the prevention and control of public health emergencies caused by intestinal infectious diseases in schools in Hunan Province are involved in kindergartens, primary schools and junior high schools, and the critical periods for prevention and control of the emergencies are spring, autumn and winter seasons. The prevention and control measures should target at safe supply of the food and drinking water in schools, practicing daily disinfection, regular examination in the morning and afternoon for the students, registration and tracking of the students absent from school due to illness so as to reduce the occurrence of public health emergencies caused by intestinal infectious diseases in school campus.

Key words: Intestinal infectious diseases, School, Public health emergency, Epidemiological characteristics, Hunan Province