Analysis of Epidemiological Characteristics of Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis in aCity from 2001 to 2011

Objective The study was designed to understand the epidemiological characteristics of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis and explore strategies for the prevention and control measures in Pingdingshan.Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the epidemic situation and monitoring data.Results A decreasing trend in the morbidity of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis was observed from 1957 to 2011.The annual morbidity was 4.33/100000,and the annual fatality rate was 5.03%.Children under the age of 10 were the susceptible population.28 cases were the children under the age of 7,accounting for 40.00%,and 16 cases were the children above the age of 15,accounting for 22.86%.The morbidity increased with the rise of age.Pupils and scattered children contributed the most to caseload,accounting for 87.14%.The morbidity was higher in rural area.It showed the obvious seasonal characteristic.Even in the post-vaccine era,there was periodical fluctuation of the epidemic pattern.There were sporadic cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis caused by serogroup C in 2009.Conclusion The morbidity of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis has been steadily decreasing in Pingdingshan,but the serogroup-distribution could change.The immunization rate should be improved further for the prevention of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis.