Epidemiology of human brucellosis in Taiyuan, Shanxi, 2011–2020

  Objective  To analyze the prevalence of human brucellosis in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, from 2011 to 2020, and provide evidence for the effective prevention and control of human brucellosis.

  Methods  Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted for the local brucellosis cases in Taiyuan from 2011 to 2020 by using the data from “China Disease Prevention and Control Information System”.

  Results  The average annual incidence of brucellosis in Taiyuan from 2011 to 2020 was 2.60/100 000 (1.24/100 000–4.51/100 000), with the highest incidence in 2014 (4.51/100 000); the annual peak of the incidence was during March - July; all the counties (cities, districts) reported cases, but the incidence rate in suburban counties (8.80/100 000) was higher than that in urban area (1.21/100 000) ( χ²=1 432.21, P<0.001), but the proportion of the cases in urban areas was in increase, which was significantly higher during 2016–2020 (41.44%) than that during 2011–2015 (35.56%). The difference was significant ( χ²=3.899, P=0.048). The male-to-female ratio of cases was 4.1∶1. The cases occurred in all the age groups (0–85 years), but the cases aged 20–60 years accounted for 69.22%, and the proportion of the cases aged ≥60 years increased during 2016–2020 (28.70%) compared with that during 2011–2015 (22.35%), the difference was significant ( χ²=5.745, P=0.017). Most cases were farmers (69.13%), but the proportion showed a downward trend from 74.17% during 2011–2015 to 61.11% during 2016–2020, the difference was significant ( χ²=21.205, P<0.001).

  Conclusion  The incidence of human brucellosis in Taiyuan from 2011 to 2020 showed a fluctuation trend, and the cases mainly occurred in rural area, but the cases in urban area increased, and the proportion of the cases aged ≥60 years also increased, suggesting that it is necessary to conduct health education and take behavior intervention in urban population and in elder population.