Surveillance report on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS)in Zhejiang province in 2006

Objective This study was conducted to get an insight into the epidemiological features of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Zhejiang province in order to provide preventive measures against the disease. Methods The disease was analyzed through descriptive epidemiological approaches. Hantavirus (HV) antigens in the lung tissue of rodents were detected by fluorescence assay technique (FAT) while HV antibodies in the HFRS patients were detected by indirect fluorescence assay technique(IFAT). Results A total of 748 cases were studied throughout the province, of which 89.84%(672/748) were distributed in the cities of Ningbo, Taizhou, Shaoxing, Lishui, Jinhua, Quzhou. Summer and winter were both peak seasons, and young farmers were the most vulnerable population. Conclusion The HFRS were taking a downward step generally in Zhejiang province, nevertheless, the incidence of which still remained to be high in certain cities and counties, thus highlighting the tight supervision and disease control.