Current characteristics of Hand-foot-mouth disease and relationship with meteorological factorsin Hangzhou in 2014

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and etiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease in Hangzhou in 2014,andstudy on the relationship between morbidity and seasonal influences on the distribution of pathogens. Methods The epidemiological featuresof hand-foot-mouth disease patients in Hangzhou area in 2014 were analyzed.The real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the levels of virus nucleic acid from throat swab specimens.The correlations of time-place clustering with the local weather were analyzed. Results A total of 6 640 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease were reported,the ratio of male to female was 1.44:1,age 1-3 years old,and the mainpopulation were local scattered children,in Hangzhou,2014.The tests for 2 370 specimens showed that Coxsackie virus type A16(CA16) accounted for 242 cases with a positive rate of 10.2%,enterovirus 71(EV71) for 936 cases with a positive rate of 39.5%,other intestinal virus for 1 192 cases with apositive rate of 50.3%.The peak period for cluster of hand-foot-mouth disease was during May and July with EV71 as the main pathogens.The morbidity and distribution of pathogen were positively correlated with the average temperature,rainfall and relative humidity(P<0.05).And EV71 distributed mainly in the months of the high average temperature,rainfall and relative humidity,however,the universal enterovirus mainly distributed in the months of lower average temperature,rainfall and relative humidity. Conclusion The hand-foot-mouth disease mainly attack the scattered boy aged 1 to 3 years old in Hangzhou in 2014,EV71 and universal enterovirus are themainpathogens.The peak period for cluster of hand-foot-mouth disease was during May and July.The morbidity and distribution of pathogen were positively correlated with the average temperature,rainfall and relative humidity.