OBJECTIVETo study the risk classification of animal plague in Spermophilus Dauricus Focus, using the Best Subsets Regression (BSR) model.

METHODSMatlab, BSR and exponential smoothing were employed to develop and evaluate a model for risk classification as well as to forecast plague epidemics at the Spermophilus Dauricus Focus. Data was based upon the Inner Mongolia surveillance programs. This model involved 7 risk factors, including density of Spermophilus dauricus, percentage of hosts infested, host flea index, percentage of nests infested, nest flea index, percentage of runways infested, and runway flea index.

RESULTSForecasting values of the classification model(CM)were calculated and grouped into 3 risk levels. Values that over 2/3 of the CM would indicate the existence of potential epidemics while those below 1/3 would indicate that there were no risk for epidemics but when values that were in between would indicate that there exist for high risk. Annually, during the observation period in the Inner Mongolia Spermophilus Dauricus Foci, the detection of Yersinia pestis gave a risk rating value of 1 which stood for existing epidemics, while nil detection rate generated a 'zero' value which representing the situation of non-epidemic. The overall plague epidemics forecasting surveillance programs in 2012 at the Spermophilus Dauricus Foci indicated that no active plague was observed. When the forecasting values became over 2/3, combinations of all the risk factors would achieve the consistency rates of 100%. When the forecasting values were below 1/3, combinations of at least the first 4 factors could also achieve the consistency rates of 100%. However, when the forecasting values fell in between, combinations of at least the first 4 factors would achieve the consistency rates of around 50%.

CONCLUSIONResults from our study showed that plague would not be active to become epidemic, in 2012.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Plague ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Risk Assessment ; Rodent Diseases ; epidemiology ; Sciuridae ; Yersinia pestis

A survey was carried out in order to know the status of student health service and student medical insurance of universities and colleges in Korea from 1 July to 30 September, 1978. And the following results were obtained; 1. Out of seventy universities and colleges, 54.8% of them had student health service facility such as student health center(30.0%) or health room(24.8%). 2. Out of twenty-seven national and public universities and colleges, 44.4% of them had student health service facility and out of forty-three private universities and colleges, 60.5% of them had student health service facilities. 3. Each of 80.8% of 25 universities, 43.3% of 30 colleges and 33.3% of 15 junior colleges had student health service facility. 4. Major roles of student health service were physical examination (92.1%), health counselling (86.8%), primary medical care (78.9%), tuberculosis control (68.4%), insect and rodent control (52.6%), parasite control (47.4%), water source sanitation (44.7%), and dental health care (28.9%). 5. Out of 21 universities and colleges, 66.7% of them had full time doctor and 81.0% of them had full time nurse for student health center. And out of 17 universities and colleges, 5.9% of them had full time doctor and 35.3% of them had full time nurse for student health room. 6. The range of health fee was varied from 100 won to 1,400 won per student per semester and the average was 520 won. 7. Among 55 universities and colleges, 78.6% of them had carried out annual physical examination in 1977 and the rate of physical examination was 57.4%. 8. Out of 70 universities and colleges, 45.7% of them had tuberculosis control program and the prevalence rate was 6.0 per 1,000 students. 9. Student medical insurance program was developed by ten universities and one college among 25 universities and 45 colleges. 10. Student medical insurance benefit was varied according to university and college ; the reduction rate of medical fee was 20% to 80% for not only in-patient but also out-patient. 11. The upper limit of pay claim was varied according to the university and college from 5,000 won to no-limitation for out-patient and from 30,000 won to no-limitation for in-patient. 12. The highest utility rate of student medical insurance program was found in university "F" with the rate of 791 for out-patient and 12 for admitted patient per 1,000 students.
Communicable Disease Control ; Delivery of Health Care ; Fees and Charges ; Fees, Medical ; Humans ; Insects ; Insurance ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Rodent Control ; Sanitation ; Student Health Services* ; Tuberculosis ; Water

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of hantaviruses including geographic distribution, types and prevalent intensity of epidemic areas of hantavirus for the last 30 years in China, and to discuss relative preventive measures.

METHODSCollecting and analyzing the data of hantaviruses epidemics in China.

RESULTSThe annual number of cases of hantavirus disease rapidly increased from 3295 in 1970 to 115,804 in 1986 then sustained between 40,000 and 60,000 cases annually in the 1990's, and then decreased thereafter. The epidemic areas existed in all provinces except Qinhai and Xinjiang and there were the hospitalized cases of hantavirus disease reported in other provinces. In recent years, the prevalence of hantavirus infection had increased in some cities, and the seasonal distribution of the cases changed as well.

CONCLUSIONData suggested that the new epidemic characteristics of hantaviruses had emerged in China suggesting that it was necessary to strengthen surveillance programs and to take comprehensive preventive measures for the control and prevention of hantaviruses in China.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Female ; Hantaan virus ; immunology ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Population Surveillance ; Prevalence ; Rats ; Rodent Control ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Inactivated ; immunology