Objective:To analyze the epidemiological trend and characteristics of human brucellosis in Laiwu City of Shandong Province, and to provide a scientific basis for improving prevention and control strategies and measures.

Methods:The information on the outbreaks of brucellsis in Laiwu City from 2011 to 2017 collected from the "Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System" in the "China Information System of Disease Prevention and Control", and a retrospective analysis method was used to descriptive statistical analysis of the three distributions (time distribution, regional distribution, population distribution) and transmission route of brucellosis cases.

Results:A total of 146 cases of brucellosis were reported from 2011 to 2017. The incidence of brucellosis increased from 0.23/100 000 in 2011 to 2.98/100 000 in 2017, showing an increasing trend year by year (χ²_trend=55.56, P < 0.05); the scope of outbreak was expanding, and the epidemic area was spread from 2 towns (streets) in 2011 to 17 towns (streets) in 2017. There were cases of brucellosis in the whole year, the onset time was mainly concentrated in April and May; the gender of the patients was mainly male, and the male-female ratio was 2.84: 1.00 (108:38); the onset age was mainly concentrated in 30-70 years old; the occupational distribution was dominated by farmers. The transmission route was mainly direct contact infection of occupational population, accounting for 78.77% (115/146); followed by food-borne infection, accounting for 13.70% (20/146).

Conclusions:The outbreak of brucellosis in Laiwu City is on the rise and the scope of the epidemic area is expanding, occupation is dominated by farmers, the transmission route is mainly direct contact. The health education and awareness of self-protection for related occupational population should be strengthened.