Spatiotemporal distribution of brucellosis in Guangzhou, 2015−2021

  Objective  To analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of brucellosis in Guangzhou from 2015 to 2021 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of brucellosis.

  Methods  The incidence data of brucellosis in Guangzhou from 2015 to 2021 were collected for the analysis on the prevalence of brucellosis by gender, occupation and age groups, calculation of the brucellosis incidence and description of the time and population distribution of the disease. The spatial distribution characteristics were showed in the form of a map of the incidence by ArcGIS 10.3.

  Results  A total of 364 brucellosis cases were reported in Guangzhou during 2015−2021. The annual incidence rate of brucellosis was 3.71 per 1 million during this period, and 62.09% of the annual cases were reported between March and July. The cases were mainly livestock workers with occupational exposures, accounting for 43.41% of the total cases,followed by home workers/the unemployed (22.80%). The overall spatial analysis showed that the incidence rate in urban-rural continuum area was higher than that in other areas.

  Conclusion  Employees engaged in livestock trading, slaughtering and sales are at high risk for brucellosis, so the surveillance should be carried out continuously and management of livestock trading market should be strengthened. In non-occupational population, infection risk still exists, so it is necessary to conduct health education to improve the awareness of brucellosis prevention and control.