Epidemiological analysis of plague in Qinghai province from 2001 to 2010

Objective: To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method: The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results: In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan, Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24%. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo, Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16%, 23/37). Conclusions: The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.