Epidemiology of hand foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Yunnan, 2008-2013

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks in Yunnan province, and provide evidence for the development of HFMD prevention and control measures. Methods The incidence data of HFMD outbreaks in Yunnan from 2008 to 2013 were collected to conduct descriptive epidemiological analysis. Results A total of 72 outbreaks of HFMD were reported in Yunnan during this period, involving 1513 cases and 1 death. The attack rate was 4.51%. The annual incidence peaks were during April-July and November-December. The 3 years old children in child care settings were mostly affected, and more cases occurred in boys than girls. Conclusion HFMD mainly affects the 3 years old children in child care settings during spring-summer and during autumn-winter. It is recommended to take multi samples in the response to the outbreak to increase the detection rate of the pathogens.