Analysis on underreporting of brucellosis in Shanxi, 2015–2016

Objective To understand the underreporting of brucellosis in Shanxi province, find out the problemsin reporting of brucellosis in medical institutions, estimate the epidemic situationand provide the evidence for prevention and control of brucellosis.

Methods According to the ‘National Survey Protocol forthe Underreporting of Notifiable Communicable Diseases’, we investigated the underreporting of brucellosis in residents and medical institutions in Shanxi.

Results A total of 60 180 residents were investigated, and 103 cases of brucellosis were identified and the average annual incidence was 171.15/100 000. Among these cases, 45 were not reported, the underreporting rate was 43.69%, and 44 were failed to be diagnosed, the missed diagnosis rate was 42.72%. Seventy eight medical institutionswere investigated, and 542 cases of brucellosis were identified, in which 140 were not reported, and the rate of underreporting was 25.83%. One in the 402 reported cases of brucellosis was not reported in time. The timely reported rate was 99.75%.

Conclusion The underreporting of brucellosis was severe in Shanxi; which might be due to the diagnosis and treatmentof brucellosis cases in different medical institutions and the ambiguity of the type ofbrucellosis which should be reported. So it is suggested to clarify the reporting type of brucellosis. The ability of diagnosis of medical institutions above county level should be improved in order to reduce the underreporting of brucellosis.