Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatial and temporal clustering of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Hunan province from 2013 to 2023, and provide scientific basis for HFRS prevention and control in Hunan province.

Methods Data of HFRS cases in Hunan province from 2013 to 2023 were collected from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System of the Chinese Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and analyzed descriptively. Spatiotemporal clustering of cases was detected by SaTScan 10.1 software.

Results A total of 6458 HFRS cases were reported in Hunan province from 2013 to 2023, with an average annual incidence of 0.87/100 000, showing a downward trend (trend χ²=571.110, P<0.001), epidemic season showed “double peak” distribution (April to June and November to January), the high incidence population was middle-aged male farmers, 14 cities and prefectures reported HFRS cases, the top county (urban areas) were Loudi city Lengshuijiang (66.59/100000). The incidence rate in Hunan province has significant spatial positive correlation, The high-high cluster area of incidence rate has a trend of shifting from southwest to central and eastern Hunan with time, and the low-low cluster area mainly concentrates in northwest Hunan. One cluster area of the first class and two cluster areas of the second class were detected by space-time scanning. The cluster area of the first class involved 5 counties and cities of Changsha, Yiyang and Changde, and the time was early summer. The positive rate of host animals was 2.73%, and the difference of positive rate among different monitoring points was statistically significant.

Conclusion The epidemic situation of HFRS in Hunan province showed a downward trend, showing a significant spatial positive correlation, attention should be paid to the prevention and control work in key areas, key populations and key periods, so as to achieve regional coordination and precise prevention and control.