Abstract A suspected case of cutaneous anthrax was reported by Gongliu County Disease Control and Prevention Center, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on August 19, 2021. Then, an epidemiological survey was performed by a joint investigation team consisting of professionals from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, intermediate-level trainees from the Field Epidemiology Training Program of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and professionals from Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 11 cutaneous anthrax cases were identified, including 8 suspected cases and 3 clinically diagnosed cases, and all cases were villagers in Y Village, X Township, Gongliu County, without severe case or deaths found. The onset of the first case occurred on July 27, and the onset of the last case occurred on August 16. The main clinical manifestations included ulcerative eschar on hands and exposed skin of the upper extremity. A Bacillus anthracis isolate was detected in meat samples from infected cattle. Epidemiological surveys showed that villagers did not report infected cattle to related sectors and privately slaughtered and ate meat from infected cattle without any effective protective measures, resulting in this outbreak. It is recommended to strengthen health education for people raising, selling and slaughtering livestock, and publicize zoonotic disease control knowledge, including anthrax, and establish an effective surveillance and response system for anthrax for immediate identification and treatment of epidemics.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of human brucellosis in Sichuan Province, and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of brucellosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis methods were used to collect the data of reported cases of brucellosis in Sichuan Province from 2018 to 2020 from the "Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System" in the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System". The distribution (population, time and region) and case investigation data (epidemiological contact history and clinical manifestations) were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological.Results:A total of 309 cases of brucellosis were reported in Sichuan Province in 2018 - 2020, and no deaths occurred. The annual incidence rate was 0.123/100 000. Among the 309 reported cases of brucellosis, the sex ratio of men to women was 2.4 ∶ 1.0 (218 ∶ 91); the age of onset was mainly 20 - 60 years old, accounting for 79.9% (247/309); the occupation was mainly farmers, accounting for 51.8% (160/309). Brucellosis cases were reported in every month of the year, mainly from March to August, accounting for 72.5% (224/309) of the total number of cases. Cases were reported in 21 cities (autonomous prefectures) in Sichuan Province from 2018 to 2020. The top 5 cities (autonomous prefectures) in terms of cumulative number of cases were Chengdu, Liangshan, Zigong, Neijiang and Luzhou in order, accounting for 60.5% (187/309) of the total number of cases. Among the 309 reported cases of brucellosis, 279 case investigations were completed. Among them, 258 cases had a history of contact with livestock and their products, accounting for 92.5%; all contacted livestock were sheep; the main mode of transmission was direct contact, accounting for 88.5% (247/279); the main routes of transmission were sheep farming (50.2%, 140/279), sheep slaughtering (18.6%, 52/279), selling mutton or cutting sheep products in mutton restaurants (11.1%, 31/279); the main clinical manifestations were fever, fatigue, hyperhidrosis, and muscle and joint pain, accounting for 91.4% (255/279), 89.2% (249/279), 80.3% (224/279) and 65.2% (182/279), respectively.Conclusions:The spread of brucellosis in Sichuan Province is increasing, and spring and summer are the epidemic seasons. Brucellosis cases are most common in sheep farms, and the infection method is mainly direct contact infection; the clinical manifestations are diverse and non-specific. Relevant departments should strengthen the prevention and control of the disease in key populations and regions to control the outbreak of brucellosis.