OBJECTIVETo review the current regional distribution of echinococcosis in China for the purpose of providing the scientific data for the control of echinococcosis in the future.

DATA SOURCESAll data in this paper were originated from related references in Chinese or English language Chinese journals except one from Lancet.

STUDY SELECTIONThirty-one original articles published from 1983 - 2001 were selected according to the stated purpose and 7 of them were written by the author.

DATA EXTRACTIONThe present paper addresses cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis(AE), as well as their respective regional distribution.

RESULTSCE was distributed chiefly in Western China where Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, west Sichuan and Qingzang plateau were hyper-endemic areas. Regional distribution of AE was not so extensive as that of CE, but it was found mainly in northwest China as well. Moreover, AE was extremely harmful to human body and "AE cancer" is popularly called.

CONCLUSIONSteps should be taken in the future heath policy to control its spread. Regional distribution of echinococcosis is so extensive in China that CE and AE should be increasingly controlled today.