Challenges in anthrax prevention/control and improvement suggestion

To understand the current status of anthrax prevention and control in China. We carried out an investigation on case reporting and data collection of anthrax in Gannan prefecture, Gansu province, where the reported case number of anthrax was highest in China in 2015. Problems in anthrax surveillance were found. First, the current anthrax surveillance guidelines are not feasible. The diagnostic parameters are unreasonable, resulting in misdiagnosis of some anthrax cases. Second, the detection techniques of local hospitals are limited. Also there is a shortage of professional personnel, and their social benefit is less decent, which partially causes the low efficiency. Third, the epidemic sites were not treated thoroughly due to the unsatisfied collaboration between veterinary and public health departments, resulting in a vicious circle of new and old epidemic. It is suggested to strengthen the health education about anthrax to improve the public's awareness of related knowledge, revise the anthrax surveillance standards and cancel the reporting of suspected cases in surveillance. Furthermore, the implementation of preventive vaccination and other interventions should be strengthened, the share of information between veterinary and public health departments needs to improved, and the training of local professional staff and improvement of their social benefits would facilitate the surveillance and treatment of anthrax.