Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Distribution Patterns of Human Norovirus Outbreaks in China, 2012-2018.

Meng Ying Zhai; Lu Ran; Jiao Wang; Dan YE; Wen Jing Yang; Xu Yan; Lin Wang

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Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Distribution Patterns of Human Norovirus Outbreaks in China, 2012-2018.

Author: Meng Ying ZHAI ¹ ; Lu RAN ² ; Jiao WANG ^{3
,

4} ; Dan YE ¹ ; Wen Jing YANG ¹ ; Xu YAN ¹ ; Lin WANG ¹
Author Information

1. National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China.
2. Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
3. National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100021, China
4. School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Epidemiological characteristics; Norovirus outbreak; Spatiotemporal aggregation; Spatiotemporal heterogeneity
MeSH: Humans; Gastroenteritis/epidemiology*; Norovirus; Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology*; Disease Outbreaks; China/epidemiology*; Genotype
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2023;36(1):76-85
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To clarify the epidemiological characteristics and spatial distribution patterns of human norovirus outbreaks in China, identify high-risk areas, and provide guidance for epidemic prevention and control.
METHODS:This study analyzed 964 human norovirus outbreaks involving 50,548 cases in 26 provinces reported from 2012 to 2018. Epidemiological analysis and spatiotemporal scanning analysis were conducted to analyze the distribution of norovirus outbreaks in China.
RESULTS:The outbreaks showed typical seasonality, with more outbreaks in winter and fewer in summer, and the total number of infected cases increased over time. Schools, especially middle schools and primary schools, are the most common settings of norovirus outbreaks, with the major transmission route being life contact. More outbreaks occurred in southeast coastal areas in China and showed significant spatial aggregation. The highly clustered areas of norovirus outbreaks have expanded northeast over time.
CONCLUSION:By identifying the epidemiological characteristics and high-risk areas of norovirus outbreaks, this study provides important scientific support for the development of preventive and control measures for norovirus outbreaks, which is conducive to the administrative management of high-risk settings and reduction of disease burden in susceptible areas.