Epidemic characteristics of the plague in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province from 2004 to 2013

Objective To explore the epidemic trend of the plague in the past 10 years in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province and to provide a basis for making prevention and control measures. Methods The information of human plague, plague monitoring and plague foci survey results from 2004 to 2013, which were kept by Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control were analyzed with the Excel 2003 software. Indexes observed were: the distribution of area, population, time. Results Forty-five Yersinia pestis strains were isolated from the infected animals in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province in the past 10 years. Five counties had animal plague except Zhaduo County. Human plague occurred only in 2004 and 2005, there were 5 plague epidemics, 18 patients and 9 of them died, the mortality was 50.00% (9/18). The patients were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo and Zhiduo 4 counties. In 2004, there were epidemic outbreaks of pneumonic plague in some areas. Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province is still serious, and there are human plague outbreaks occasionally. In order to reduce the occurrence of the plague, the plague monitoring should be strengthened. Key words: Plague; Epidemic focus; Epidemiology