Analyzing the spatial distribution pattern and formation factors of medicinal plant resources can provide a scientific basis for the protection and development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources. This study is based on the survey data of medicinal plant resources in 104 county-level administrative regions of Anhui province in the Fourth National Survey of TCM Resources. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis, trend surface analysis, local spatial autocorrelation analysis, hotspot analysis, and a geodetector were employed to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of medicinal plant richness, and its relationship with natural factors was explored. The results can provide a basis for the formulation of development strategies such as the protection and utilization of TCM resources, as well as offer a scientific foundation for the establishment of regional planning schemes for TCM resources in Anhui province. The results indicated that the richness of medicinal plant resources in Anhui province had significant spatial heterogeneity, exhibiting highly clustered distribution characteristics. Cold spots and hot spots presented clustered distribution patterns, with cold spots mostly located north of the Huaihe River and hot spots south of the Yangtze River. Overall, the distribution of medicinal plant resources in Anhui province showed an overall trend of high in the south and low in the north, which was consistent with the overall geomorphic trend of this province. In addition, natural factors such as altitude, precipitation, and vegetation type played an important role in the diversity and spatial distribution pattern formation of medicinal plant resources. The extraction and analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics of natural factors in cold and hot spot regions discovered that the heterogeneity of eco-environments constituted a fundamental condition for the formation of species diversity.
Plants, Medicinal/classification* ; China ; Spatial Analysis ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Biodiversity

Objective To reveal the spatial distribution patterns of key pollutants in the Huaihe River Basin and quantify the risks and burdens of non-gastrointestinal cancers by the grade of pollution,providing targets and data support for enhanced management of water pollution in the Huaihe River Basin. Methods Surface water quality data of the Huaihe River Basin were obtained from the National Surface Water Environmental Quality Monitoring Network(2021).Incidence data of seven cancers were extracted from the 2019 Annual Report of the China Cancer Registry.Random forest and SHapley Additive exPlanations were employed to select key pollutants,and pollution was graded based on the spatial analysis of the Huaihe River Basin.The cancer risks and population attributable fractions were calculated under pollution grades. Results Five key pollutants linked to cancers were identified,including total nitrogen,total phosphorus,chemical oxygen demand,biochemical oxygen demand after 5 days,and arsenic.Pollution was graded into three levels regarding the combined effects of pollutants.Compared with the low pollution areas,high pollution areas showed increased risks of lung cancer(RR=1.26,95%CI:1.06-1.50),breast cancer(female)(RR=1.46,95%CI:1.21-1.77),pancreatic cancer(RR=1.46,95%CI:1.06-2.01),brain cancer(RR=1.44,95%CI:1.05-1.98),and gallbladder cancer(RR=1.60,95%CI:1.03-2.50).The grade of pollution contributed to more than 5% of cases for most cancers above. Conclusions The potential cancer risks and burdens attributed to surface water pollution cannot be overlooked.Addressing this challenge necessitates close collaboration of various stakeholders to strengthen policy development,enhance environmental governance,and implement public health interventions.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Rivers/chemistry* ; Neoplasms/etiology* ; Water Quality ; Environmental Monitoring ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis* ; Phosphorus/analysis* ; Spatial Analysis ; Nitrogen/analysis* ; Arsenic/analysis* ; Water Pollution/adverse effects* ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence trend and spatial clustering characteristics of scarlet fever in China from 2016 to 2020 to provide evidence for development of regional disease prevention and control strategies. METHODS: The incidence data of scarlet fever in 31 provinces and municipalities in mainland China from 2016 to 2020 were obtained from the Chinese Health Statistics Yearbook and the Public Health Science Data Center led by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.The three-dimensional spatial trend map of scarlet fever incidence in China was drawn using ArcGIS to determine the regional trend of scarlet fever incidence.GeoDa spatial autocorrelation analysis was used to explore the spatial aggregation of scarlet fever in China in recent years. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2020, a total of 310 816 cases of scarlet fever were reported in 31 provinces, municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions, with an average annual incidence of 4.48/100 000.The reported incidence decreased from 4.32/100 000 in 2016 to 1.18/100 000 in 2020(Z=103.47, P < 0.001).The incidence of scarlet fever in China showed an obvious regional clustering from 2016 to 2019(Moran's I>0, P < 0.05), but was randomly distributed in 2020(Moran's I>0, P=0.16).The incidence of scarlet fever showed a U-shaped distribution in eastern and western regions of China, and increased gradually from the southern to northern regions.Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Hebei and Gansu provinces had the High-high (H-H) clusters of scarlet fever in China. CONCLUSION Scarlet fever still has a high incidence in China with an obvious spatial clustering.For the northern regions of China with H-H clusters of scarlet fever, the allocation of health resources and public health education dynamics should be strengthened, and local scarlet fever prevention and control policies should be made to contain the hotspots of scarlet fever.
Humans ; Incidence ; Scarlet Fever/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Spatial Analysis ; Cluster Analysis ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis

From 2015 to 2019, the annual average incidence rate of scarlet fever was 7.80/100 000 in Yantai City, which showed an increasing trend since 2017 (χ²_trend=233.59, P<0.001). The peak period of this disease was from April to July and November to January of the next year. The ratio of male to female was 1.49∶1, with a higher prevalence among cases aged 3 to 9 years (2 357/2 552, 92.36%). Children in kindergartens, primary and middle school students, and scattered children were the high risk population, with the incidence rate of 159.86/100 000, 25.57/100 000 and 26.77/100 000, respectively. The global spatial auto-correlation analysis showed that the global Moran's I index of the reported incidence rate of scarlet fever in Yantai from 2015 to 2019 was 0.28, 0.29, 0.44, 0.48, and 0.22, respectively (all P values<0.05), suggesting that the incidence rate of scarlet fever in Yantai from 2015 to 2019 was spatial clustering. The local spatial auto-correlation analysis showed that the "high-high" clustering areas were mainly located in Laizhou City, Zhifu District, Haiyang City, Fushan District and Kaifa District, while the "low-high" clustering areas were mainly located in Haiyang City and Fushan District.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Scarlet Fever/epidemiology* ; Spatial Analysis ; Cities/epidemiology* ; Seasons ; Risk Factors ; Incidence ; Cluster Analysis ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: To identify the spatial distribution pattern of Oncomelania hupensis spread in Hubei Province, so as to provide insights into precision O. hupensis snail control in the province. METHODS: Data pertaining to emerging and reemerging snails were collected from Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022 to build a spatial database of O. hupensis snail spread. The spatial clustering of O. hupensis snail spread was identified using global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses, and the hot spots of snail spread were identified using kernel density estimation. In addition, the correlation between environments with snail spread and the distance from the Yangtze River was evaluated using nearest-neighbor analysis and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: O. hupensis snail spread mainly occurred along the Yangtze River and Jianghan Plain in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022, with a total spread area of 4 320.63 hm², including 1 230.77 hm² emerging snail habitats and 3 089.87 hm² reemerging snail habitats. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed spatial autocorrelation in the O. hupensis snail spread in Hubei Province in 2020 and 2021, appearing a spatial clustering pattern (Moran's I = 0.003 593 and 0.060 973, both P values < 0.05), and the mean density of spread snails showed spatial aggregation in Hubei Province in 2020 (Moran's I = 0.512 856, P < 0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the high-high clustering areas of spread snails were mainly distributed in 50 settings of 10 counties (districts) in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022, and the high-high clustering areas of the mean density of spread snails were predominantly found in 219 snail habitats in four counties of Jiangling, Honghu, Yangxin and Gong'an. Kernel density estimation showed that there were high-, secondary high- and medium-density hot spots in snail spread areas in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022, which were distributed in Jingzhou District, Wuxue District, Honghu County and Huangzhou District, respectively. There were high- and medium-density hot spots in the mean density of spread snails, which were located in Jiangling County, Honghu County and Yangxin County, respectively. In addition, the snail spread areas negatively correlated with the distance from the Yangtze River (r = -0.108 9, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS There was spatial clustering of O. hupensis snail spread in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022. The monitoring and control of O. hupensis snails require to be reinforced in the clustering areas, notably in inner embankments to prevent reemerging schistosomiasis.
Animals ; Schistosomiasis/prevention & control* ; Spatial Analysis ; Ecosystem ; Gastropoda ; Rivers ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody, and to examine the correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, so as to provide insights into advanced schistosomiais control in the province. METHODS: The epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2020 were collected, including number of permanent residents in survey villages, number of advanced schistosomiasis patients, number of residents receiving serological tests and number of residents seropositive for anti-Schistosoma antibody, and the prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were descriptively analyzed. Village-based spatial distribution characteristics of prevalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody were identified in Hunan Province in 2020, and the correlation between the revalence advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was examined using Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis was 0 to 2.72% and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody was 0 to 20.25% in 1 153 schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Hunan Province in 2020. Spatial clusters were identified in both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis (global Moran's I = 0.416, P < 0.01) and the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (global Moran's I = 0.711, P < 0.01) in Hunan Province. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis identified 98 schistosomiasis-endemic villages with high-high clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis, 134 endemic villages with high-high clusters of the seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody and 36 endemic villages with high-high clusters of both the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province. In addition, spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody (r_s = 0.235, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS There were spatial clusters of the prevalence of advanced schistosomiasis and seroprevalence of anti-Schistosoma antibody in Hunan Province in 2020, which were predominantly located in areas neighboring the Dongting Lake. These clusters should be given a high priority in the schistosomiasis control programs.
Animals ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Schistosomiasis/epidemiology* ; Schistosoma ; Spatial Analysis ; Antibodies, Helminth ; China/epidemiology*

Objective: To clarify the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering dynamics of COVID-19 in Shanghai in 2022. Methods: The COVID-19 data presented on the official websites of Municipal Health Commissions of Shanghai during March 1, 2022 and May 31, 2022 were collected for a spatial autocorrelation analysis by GeoDa software. A logistic growth model was used to fit the epidemic situation and make a comparison with the actual infection situation. Results: Pudong district had the highest number of symptomatic and asymptomatic infectants, accounting for 29.30% and 35.58% of the total infectants. Differences in cumulative attack rates and infection rates among 16 districts (P<0.001) were significant. The rates were significantly higher in Huangpu district than in other districts. The attack rate of COVID-19 from March 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022 had a global spatial positive correlation (P<0.05). Spatial distribution of COVID-19 attack rate was different at different periods. The global autocorrelation coefficient from March 16 to March 29, April 6 to April 12 and May 18 to May 24 had no statistical significance (P>0.05). Our local autocorrelation analysis showed that 22 high-high clustering areas were detected in eight periods.The high-risk hot-spot areas have experienced a "less-more-less" change process. The growth model fitting results were consistent with the actual infection situation. Conclusion: There was a clear spatiotemporal correlation in the distribution of COVID-19 in Shanghai. The comprehensive prevention and control measures of COVID-19 epidemic in Shanghai have effectively prohibited the growth of the epidemic, not only curbing the spatially spread of high-risk epidemic areas, but also reducing the risk of transmission to other cities.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; Spatial Analysis

Objective: To analyze the epidemiology and spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Shanxi province. Methods: The data of HFMD in Shanxi province from 2009 to 2020 were collected from notifiable disease management information system of Chinese information system for disease control and prevention and analyzed by descriptive epidemiology, Joinpoint regression, spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatio- temporal scanning analysis. Results: A total of 293 477 HFMD cases were reported in Shanxi province from 2009 to 2020, with an average annual incidence of 67.64/100 000 (293 477/433 867 454), severe disease rate of 5.36/100 000 (2 326/433 867 454), severe disease ratio of 0.79%(2 326/293 477), mortality of 0.015/100 000 (66/433 867 454), and fatality rate of 22.49/100 000 (66/293 477). The reported incidence rate, severe disease rate, mortality rate and fatality rate of HFMD showed decreasing trends. The main high-risk groups were scattered children and kindergarten children aged 0-5. The incidence of HFMD had obvious seasonal variation, with two peaks every year: the main peak was during June-July, the secondary peak was during September-October and the peak period is from April to November. A total of 13 942 laboratory cases were confirmed, with a diagnosis rate of 4.75% (13 942/293 477), including 4 438 (35.11%, 4 438/293 477) Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) positive cases, 4 609 (33.06%, 4 609/293 477) Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) positive cases, and 4 895 (31.83%, 4 895/293 477) other enterovirus positive cases. There was a spatial positive correlation (Moran's I ranged from 0.12 to 0.58, all P<0.05) and the spatial clustering was obvious. High-risk regions were mainly distributed in Taiyuan in central Shanxi province, Linfen and Yuncheng in southern Shanxi province, and Changzhi in southeastern Shanxi province. Spatial-temporal scanning analysis revealed 1 the most likely cluster and 8 secondary likely clusters, of which the most likely cluster (RR=2.65, LLR=22 387.42, P<0.001) located in Taiyuan and Jinzhong city, Shanxi province, including 12 counties (districts), and accumulated from April 1, 2009 to November 30, 2018. Conclusions: There was obvious spatial-temporal clustering of HFMD in Shanxi province, and the epidemic situation was in decline. The key areas were the districts in urban areas and the counties adjacent to it. Meanwhile, the monitoring and classification of other enterovirus types of HFMD should be strengthened.
Child ; Humans ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/epidemiology* ; Spatial Analysis ; Enterovirus Infections ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Cluster Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To recognize the spatial and temporal characteristics of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), China national IDD surveillance data for the years of 1995-2018 were analyzed. METHODS: Time series analysis was used to describe and predict the IDD related indicators, and spatial analysis was used to analyze the spatial distribution of salt iodine levels. RESULTS: In China, the median urinary iodine concentration increased in 1995-1997, then decreased to adequate levels, and are expected to remain appropriate in 2019-2022. The goiter rate continually decreased and is expected to be maintained at a low level. Since 2002, the coverage rates of iodized salt and the consumption rates of qualified iodized salt (the percentage of qualified iodized salt in all tested salt) increased and began to decline in 2012; they are expected to continue to decrease. Spatial epidemiological analysis indicated a positive spatial correlation in 2016-2018 and revealed feature regarding the spatial distribution of salt related indicators in coastal areas and areas near iodine-excess areas. CONCLUSIONS Iodine nutrition in China showed gradual improvements. However, a recent decline has been observed in some areas following changes in the iodized salt supply in China. In the future, more regulations regarding salt management should be issued to strengthen IDD control and prevention measures, and avoid the recurrence of IDD.
China/epidemiology* ; Iodine ; Prevalence ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; Spatial Analysis ; Time Factors

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis A in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2019. Methods: The data of hepatitis A incidence in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2019 were collected from the infectious disease surveillance system of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. ArcGIS 10.7 software was used for spatial autocorrelation analysis. SaTScan 9.6 software was used for spatiotemporal scanning analysis. SPSS 25.0 software was used for additional analysis. Results: Zhejiang Province has reported 5 465 cases of hepatitis A in 2010-2019 years, with an average annual incidence rate of 1.00/100 000, and periodicity and seasonality are not obvious. The incidence of male was higher than that of female (P=0.023), and the highest incidence rate was 50-59 years old. Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that there was a positive spatial correlation between the incidence of hepatitis A in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2017, with the weakest correlation in 2010 (Moran's I =0.103, Z=1.769, P=0.049), and the strongest correlation in 2016 (Moran's I=0.328, Z=4.979, P=0.001). Spatiotemporal scanning analysis showed that there was spatial aggregation of hepatitis A in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2019, with a total of three aggregation areas identified. Among them, the mostly aggregation area was concentrated in Xiangshan county of Ningbo city, which covered 10 counties (cities and districts), including Ninghai county and Yinzhou district, and appeared from January 1 to June 30, 2012. Conclusion: The incidence level of hepatitis A in Zhejiang Province shows a stable fluctuation trend from 2010 to 2019, and the seasonal regularity is not obvious. The population group aged 50-59 years old is the key population. There is spatial aggregation in the epidemic situation of hepatitis A. Targeted prevention and control measures of hepatitis A should be done based on the law of spatiotemporal aggregation and local incidence.
China/epidemiology* ; Cluster Analysis ; Female ; Hepatitis A/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spatial Analysis