Objective  To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Zhejiang province from 2015 to 2019, and provide evidence for SFTS control.

  Methods  The incidence data of SFTS in Zhejiang from 2015 to 2019 were collected from Chinese National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the spatial, temporal and population distributions of SFTS cases. The spatial map was generated with software ArcGIS 10.2 and the statistical analyses were performed by using software SPSS 16.0.

  Results  A total of 337 SFTS cases were reported in Zhejiang from 2015 to 2019, in which 163 were males and 174 were females. The annual reported morbidity rate was 0.12/100 000 (from 0.08/100 000 to 0.15/100 000) and the male-female ratio of the caes was 0.94∶1. The case fatality rate was 10.39% (35/337). The cases mainly occurred from April to October with the incidence peak in summer. Of all the cases, middle-aged and elderly people over 45 years old accounted for 94.66% (319/337). As for the specific occupation, farmers accounted for 59.94% (202/337). The top three high-risk areas were Taizhou (143 cases), Zhoushan (83 cases) and Ningbo (33 cases), where the reported cases accounted for 76.85% of the total cases. The annual number of counties with SFTS case reporting were 13, 17, 19, 24 and 18 during 2015–2019. In 2018, a family cluster was reported in Shangyu district of Shaoxing, in which 4 cases occurred. The transmission factors might be blood, secretion and excretion.

  Conclusion  Between 2015 and 2019, the distribution of SFTS cases in Zhejiang expanded. Most SFTS cases were middle-aged and elderly people in mountainous areas, the seasonality of incidence of SFTS was obvious. Relevant prevention and control measures including public health education, surveillance and training should be carried out in populations and areas at high risk.