Epidemiological Evolution Profile of Human Brucellosis and Socioeconomic Factor Correlation Analysis - Southern and Northern Areas, China, 1950-2021.

INTRODUCTION

Human brucellosis poses a serious public health concern in China, however, epidemiological evolution of disease in southern and northern China remains unclear.

METHODS

The number of cases, incidence rate, geographic and temporal distribution, and social factors were analyzed to illustrate the epidemiological change.

RESULTS

About 97.6% of cases consistently located in the northern area are attributed to the tens of thousands of livestock farming. This underscores the need to prioritize strengthening surveillance and control measures in the northern. By contrast, only 2.4% of cases were in the southern area. These data indicate that controlling brucellosis in the northern will help reduce the incidence in the southern. There was an apparent shift from historical multiple-species prevalence to the present dominance of a single species, Brucella melitensis. Mutton price and production were closely correlated with the number of cases, implying that B. melitensis strains were accompanied by these factors, co-driving the persistent epidemic of brucellosis and expanding from the northern toward the southern.

CONCLUSIONS

The control and prevention of brucellosis in the northern have become extremely complex sociological issues. It is important to draw attention to the worsening epidemic situation and to mobilize the nation's full strength to curb this trend.