Epidemiological characteristics and spatial distribution of human brucellosis in Beijing, 2013−2022

  Objective  To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Beijing, and provide evidence for the development and improvement of prevention and control measures.

  Methods  Epidemiological characteristics of brucellosis in Beijing at township (street) level during 2013−2022 were analyzed with descriptive method, and spatial autocorrelation and hotpot area analysis was conducted to understand the geographical clustering of human brucellosis with Global Moran's I statistics and Getis-Ord Gi in ArcMap.

  Results  There were 1307 human brucellosis cases reported in Beijing from 2013 to 2022. The annual cases number and incidence fluctuated and showed an increasing trend during 2021−2022, the annual incidence was 0.61/100 000. The peak of reported cases was found during spring and summer (March-September), but the peak was found during June-July from 2019−2022. The incidence in men was higher than that in women (χ²=383.642, P<0.001), and most cases were in 40-59 age group (722 cases, 55.24%). The cases in farmers and the jobless or unemployed accounted for 43.15% and 22.80% of the total respectively. The areas with high incidence were in suburb of Beijing. The areas affected by the disease showed an expanding trend from 2013 to 2015, and a decreasing trend from 2016 to 2020, then an increased trend again during 2021−2022. The incidence showed spatial autocorrelation characteristics from 2013 to 2018 and in 2022. The hotspot areas were found in the streets of some townships in the suburbs, and numbers of hotspot areas fluctuated by years.

  Conclusion  The reported cases and incidence of human brucellosis fluctuated by years in Beijing. The areas with high incidence were distributed in the suburb of Beijing and the hotspot areas were found in the streets of some townships in the suburbs. Close attention needs to be paid to the changes in the incidence trend, hotspot areas and areas with high incidence of human brucellosis, and the case surveillance should be strengthened in areas with high incidence and hotspot areas.