Surveillance for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Suizhou, Hubei,2010-2013

Objective To understand the incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)in Suizhou, Hubei province and provide scientific evidence for the diagnosis, prevention and control of SFTS. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the surveillance data of SFTS in Suizhou during 2010-2013. Results The clinical manifestations of SFTS cases included fever, nausea, fatigue, thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia. A total of 101 cases of SFTS virus infection, including 16 deaths, were reported during this period. The disease occurred sporadically. The nucleic acid positive rate was highest within 5-8 days after onset; the incidence peak mainly occurred during May-July. The patients were aged from 29 to 86 years, but the cases in age group50 years accounted for 83.17%. The cases in farmers accounted for 96.03%. Conclusion The clinical manifestations of SFTS are complex,including multiple organ damage.The death may be related with shock,viral myocarditis, respiratory failure and multiple organ failure.All the patients were from wood and hilly area, and they had worked in fields or underbrush and had tick-bite before the onset. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and diagnosis of this emerging communicable disease.