Epidemiological characteristics and control strategy of Japanese B encephalitis in Ningde City

Objective This study was designed to find out the epidemiological characteristics and trend of Japanese B encephalitis (JE) in Ningde City for providing a basis for the development of the measures for its prevention and control. Methods Descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of JE in past years in Ningde City. Results The mean yearly incidence rate,mortality rate and fatality rate of JE were 4.68/lakh,0.65/lakh,and 13.88% respectively in Ningde City from 1950 to 2005 with a peak occurring in July and August which accounted for 87.74% of all the cases. Most of the patients were children under the age of 10 with a predominance of scattered living children. Conclusion The incidence rate of costal areas was higher than that of the mountainous areas. The incidence rate and fatality rate had decreased dramatically since the practice of JE vaccination as the main part of control measures in 1980s. It's been proved of great significance to strengthen disease surveillance and forecast,enhance health education,and increase JE vaccination coverage rate for the JE control.