OBJECTIVETo investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in Zhejinag province in 2006 by G statistics, so as to find out the hotspot of occurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Zhejiang province and provide evidence for control and prevention on pulmonary tuberculosis.

METHODSThe data of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in 90 counties (districts) in Zhejiang province in 2006 were obtained from the tuberculosis surveillance system. Based on the same county field in digital maps and pulmonary tuberculosis incidence database, digital map of Zhejiang province was interrelated with the database of Zhejiang province pulmonary tuberculosis incidence to establish Zhejiang geographic information system database. General and local G statistics were developed to test for spatial heterogeneity by ArcGIS 9.2 software.

RESULTSA total of 43 467 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were reported in Zhejiang province in 2006, and the reported incidence was 88.74/100,000.G statistics indicated that there were high occurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis (Getis-Ord Gi=0.0764, P<0.05). Local Getis-Ord Gi statistics analysis showed that there were statistically significant hotspots in Yuhuan county, Leqing city, Pingyang county, Dongtou county, Yongjia county, Ruian city and Ouhai, Longwan, Lucheng district in Wenzhou city, other areas were intergradational zone with Z(Gi) value fell in -1.96 to 1.96.

CONCLUSIONPulmonary tuberculosis in Zhejiang province present unrandomly distributed and geographically clustered.