Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and clinical features of pertussis cases reported in Shandong Province of China.Methods:Data on pertussis cases in Shandong Province from 2007 to 2022 were collected from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. At the same time, some case information was collected from the database of notifiable pertussis in Shandong Province from 2007 to 2022. The distribution characteristics and clinical features of pertussis were analyzed. A spatial distribution map of pertussis cases in Shandong Province was drawn.Results:A total of 26 122 pertussis cases were reported in Shandong Province during 2007-2022, with an annual incidence rate ranging from 0.11 to 5.77 cases per 100 000 people. Cases occurred throughout the whole year, with a seasonal peak occurring in spring and summer, especially in July and August. In recent years, reported cases were mainly distributed in the central and western regions of Shandong Province, with fewer cases in the eastern region. The hot spots of the disease shifted from Heze and Dezhou City in 2007-2013 to Jinan and Tai′an city in 2014-2022. The age range of onset was from 1 day to 93 years old. The proportion of cases with age≤1 year was the largest (41.81%, 10 922/26 122), and the proportion of cases aged 0-6 months decreased from 32.21% (67/208)-55.67% (157/282) within the period of 2007 to 2013 to 16.78% (883/5 263)-41.97% (444/1 058) within the period of 2014 to 2022, with a statistically significant trend ( χ2 trend=670.01, P<0.001). There were 13 682 male cases and 12 440 female cases, with a male-female ratio of 1.10∶1. The male-female ratio was 1.45∶1 (806∶556) from 2007 to 2013 and 1.08∶1 (12 876∶11 884) from 2014 to 2022. The proportion of women increased from 42.31% (88/208) in 2007 to 47.84% (2 518/5 263) in 2022, and with a significant trend ( χ2 trend=22.25, P<0.001). In pertussis cases, the proportions of scattered children, kindergarten children and students were 71.38% (18 645/26 122), 15.13% (3 951/26 122), and 11.60% (3 031/26 122), respectively. The top five clinical symptoms of pertussis cases were paroxysmal spasmodic cough (86.33%, 21 411 cases), flushing (39.61%, 9 824 cases), restless sleep (34.51%, 8 558 cases), fever (30.80%, 7 638 cases), and crowing (27.53%, 6 829 cases). Among 24 802 cases, there were 15 542 cases (62.66%) with a history of immunization against pertussis vaccine. Conclusion:From 2007 to 2022, the incidence rate of pertussis cases in Shandong Province shows an upward trend, with the majority being young children, and the clinical symptoms are relatively typical.

Objective:To study the complete genome characterization of Human Astrovirus (HAstV) in Shandong Province.Methods:Stool samples from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance in Shandong Province from 2020 to 2022 were collected, and HAstV nucleic acid was examined by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was conducted for the positive samples to obtain complete genome sequences and identify the genotype. Homology comparison and phylogenetic analysis were performed by using BioEdit and Mega software.Results:A total of 667 samples were examined by qPCR, of which 14 were HAstV-positive (2.1%), including HAstV-1 ( n=6), MLB1 ( n=6), MLB2 ( n=1), and VA2 ( n=1). The complete genome sequences were obtained from 11 samples. The six HAstV-1 sequences of this study had 98.2% to 99.9% nt similarities with each other and 87.6% to 98.6% with those from other regions. The four MLB1 sequences of this study had 99.1% to 99.9% nt similarities with each other and 92.2% to 99.4% with those from other regions. The VA2 sequence of this study had 96.0% to 96.3% nt similarities with those from other regions. Phylogenetic analysis based on ORF2 region showed that the local HAstV-1 sequences were most closely related to Japanese strains, and had distinct topology with phylogenies based on ORF1a and ORF1b regions. Conclusion:The complete genome sequences of 11 HAstV strains are obtained, and the VA2 complete genome is found.

Objective:To analyze the trend of incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer and estimate its age-period-cohort effect in Shandong Province from 2012 to 2022.Methods:The Joinpoint regression was used to analyze the trend of incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer and calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) based on the data on thyroid cancer from 2012 to 2022. The age-period-cohort model was used to analyze the age-effect, time-effect and cohort-effect of thyroid cancer risk in the population aged over 20 years.Results:From 2012 to 2022, the incidence of thyroid cancer in Shandong province showed a significant upward trend, with an AAPC of 21.68% (95% CI: 19.14%-24.27%, P<0.001). The incidence of females was higher than that of males, and the incidence of urban areas was higher than that of rural areas. The trend of thyroid cancer mortality was relatively stable with an AAPC of -3.04% (95% CI:-8.81%-3.09%, P=0.323). The age effect of incidence increased with age before 60 years old and decreased with age after 60 years old. The incidence peaked in the age group of 55-59. The period effect increased with time. The cohort effect showed that the cohort born before 1957 had a downward trend over time, while the cohort born after 1957 had an upward trend. Conclusion:The incidence of thyroid cancer in Shandong shows a rising trend from 2012 to 2022. Age is an important factor affecting the risk of thyroid cancer. The mortality of thyroid cancer remains stable.

In order to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of vaccination against influenza, pneumonia, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes zoster (HZ), COVID-19, and hepatitis B among staff of vaccination units in Shandong Province, a sample survey was conducted among 797 staffs of adult vaccination units in 12 counties (cities and districts) of Shandong Province from August to September 2022. The results showed that the respondents had the highest total score of knowledge and attitude for the COVID-19 vaccine, with the M ( Q1, Q3) of 23 (20, 25) and 10 (10, 10), respectively, and had the lowest score of knowledge and attitude for the herpes zoster vaccine, with the M ( Q1, Q3) of 19 (15, 22) and 8 (8, 10), respectively. The vaccine-related knowledge point"vaccine applicable population"had the highest score, with the M (Q1, Q3) of 26 (23, 30). The "contraindications/adverse reactions" and "adverse reaction management" had the lowest score, with the M (Q1, Q3) of 24 (20, 29) and 24 (20, 28), respectively. About 89.71% of respondents received one adult vaccine within two years at least. The principal driver for vaccination of 53.58% of recipients was their understanding of vaccines, which was"it was necessary to receive the vaccine". About 66.00% of respondents who had not received any adult vaccine in the past two years had insufficient awareness of the necessity of vaccination and believed that they were in good health and did not need to receive it. In summary, the staff of adult vaccination units in Shandong Province have a poor understanding of the herpes zoster vaccine in terms of vaccines and a relatively poor understanding of"contraindications/adverse reaction and management"in adult vaccination knowledge points.

Objective:To describe the trend of mortality and death spectrum in Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021 and provide basis for the targeted disease prevention and control.Methods:The data were collected from the death registration reports of Shandong and 3 national retrospective surveys of death causes in Shandong. The change in levels of overall and specific deaths in Shandong in different years were analyzed based on mortality rate, age-standardized mortality rate and constituent ratio of cause of death, differential decomposition was used to quantify the contribution of demographic and non-demographic factors to changes of mortality.Results:The crude mortality rate in residents in Shandong was basically stable from 1970 to 2021, and the mortality rate during 2020-2021 (732.73/100 000) was slightly higher than that during 1970-1974 (671.98/100 000). While the standardized mortality rate decreased significantly, and the mortality during 2020-2021 (183.39/100 000) decreased by 67.71% compared with that during 1970-1974 (568.00/100 000). The negative increase of population factors and the positive decrease of non-population factors reacted each other, so the mortality was relatively stable. Cardiac-cerebrovascular disease was always the leading cause of death, but the constituent ratio of death increased rapidly from 19.70% during 1970-1974 to 54.72% during 2020-2021. The rank in the causes of death changed from the fourth (11.46%) to the second (25.70%) for malignant tumor, from the seventh (5.85%) to the third (5.59%) for injury, from the second (12.87%) to the fourth (4.99%) for chronic respiratory diseases, from the third (12.27%) to the tenth (0.42%) for infectious diseases. The standardized mortality rates of the main causes of death decreased at different degrees, the standardized mortality rates of obstetrical disease, infectious disease, gastrointestinal disease and chronic respiratory disease decreased by more than 50.00%. The age distribution of deaths and the death spectrum in different age groups and in urban-rural populations changed significantly. During 2020-2021, the proportion of deaths in young people aged 0-14 years was 0.54%, which was 97.05% lower than that during 1970-1974, while the proportion of deaths in the elderly aged ≥75 years was 55.14%, which was 55.75% higher than that during 1970-1974. The rank of infectious diseases in the causes of death descended significantly in all age groups, but the ranks of injury, neuropsychiatric disease and malignant tumor rose significantly in adolescents, and the ranks of endocrine nutrition and metabolic disease rose in middle-aged and elderly people. The difference of death spectrum between urban area and rural area became less obvious and the main death causes in urban and rural residents were basically the same during 2020-2021.Conclusions:The death spectrum of residents in Shandong changed significantly. Chronic and non-communicable diseases, especially cardiac-cerebrovascular disease and malignant tumor, should be the focus in disease control and prevention. The prevention and control of diseases in Shandong made remarkable achievement during 1970-2021. However, in the context of population ageing, it is suggested to strengthen the treatment, prevention of diseases and injuries related to the health of the elderly and elderly health care in the future.

In order to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of vaccination against influenza, pneumonia, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes zoster (HZ), COVID-19, and hepatitis B among staff of vaccination units in Shandong Province, a sample survey was conducted among 797 staffs of adult vaccination units in 12 counties (cities and districts) of Shandong Province from August to September 2022. The results showed that the respondents had the highest total score of knowledge and attitude for the COVID-19 vaccine, with the M ( Q1, Q3) of 23 (20, 25) and 10 (10, 10), respectively, and had the lowest score of knowledge and attitude for the herpes zoster vaccine, with the M ( Q1, Q3) of 19 (15, 22) and 8 (8, 10), respectively. The vaccine-related knowledge point"vaccine applicable population"had the highest score, with the M (Q1, Q3) of 26 (23, 30). The "contraindications/adverse reactions" and "adverse reaction management" had the lowest score, with the M (Q1, Q3) of 24 (20, 29) and 24 (20, 28), respectively. About 89.71% of respondents received one adult vaccine within two years at least. The principal driver for vaccination of 53.58% of recipients was their understanding of vaccines, which was"it was necessary to receive the vaccine". About 66.00% of respondents who had not received any adult vaccine in the past two years had insufficient awareness of the necessity of vaccination and believed that they were in good health and did not need to receive it. In summary, the staff of adult vaccination units in Shandong Province have a poor understanding of the herpes zoster vaccine in terms of vaccines and a relatively poor understanding of"contraindications/adverse reaction and management"in adult vaccination knowledge points.

Objective:To analyze the cause and epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak of cutaneous anthrax in Caoxian County, Heze City, Shandong Province, and to provide scientific basis for anthrax prevention and control.Methods:Using on-site epidemiological investigation methods and the "Anthrax Epidemiological Case Investigation Form", case investigations were conducted based on the epidemiological contact history and close contacts of suspected anthrax cases reported by the national health care system ( n = 83). Scorched skin smears, diseased cattle tissues, soil samples from the slaughter site and smears from slaughter utensils were collected from cases for Real-time PCR testing and pathogenic bacteria isolation and culture, respectively. Anthrax determination criteria were carried out with reference to "Anthrax Diagnosis" (WS 283-2020). Results:A total of 13 cases of cutaneous anthrax were found in this outbreak, including 12 clinically diagnosed cases and one confirmed case (positive Real-time PCR test and isolation of a strain of Bacillus anthracis). The epidemiological investigation determined that the source of infection in this outbreak was diseased cattle, the transmission route was through slaughter of diseased cattle, contact with contaminated utensils and related cattle products, and the patients were mainly engaged in occupations related to cattle slaughter or cattle product collection and sale. A total of 84 samples were collected, including 13 skin scabs, 64 environmental samples and 7 beef samples. Thirty-six positive PCR tests were performed, with a positive rate of 42.86% (36/84). Among them, 100.00% (13/13) were positive for skin scab smear specimens, 29.69% (19/64) for environmental samples and 4/7 for beef samples. A total of 8 strains of Bacillus anthracis were isolated, including 6 environmental specimens, 1 suspected case and 1 beef strain, with an overall detection rate of 9.52% (8/84). Eighty-three close contacts were investigated. Thirteen households involved in the epidemic were disinfected by spraying (200 ml/m 2) with chlorine-containing disinfectant (5 000 mg/L), and a total of 40 households involved in the epidemic were disinfected, covering an area of about 10 765 m 2. Forty-five pieces of suspected contaminated clothing were burned and disposed of, and 152 pieces of kitchenware were soaked. Conclusions:Slaughter of infected cattle, contact with contaminated utensils and related cattle products are the main causes of this skin anthrax outbreak. Strengthening market supervision, deepening inter-animal epidemic prevention, carrying out publicity and education on anthrax prevention and control, and enhancing practitioners' awareness of disease prevention is the key to prevent anthrax from occurring.

Booster immunization is the following vaccination after a period of vaccine primary immunization schedule in order to maintain immunity against a certain pathogen. In this article, the immunological mechanism of booster immunization is elaborated, and the effectiveness and public health value of booster immunization for common vaccines is discussed. Subsequently, three hot issues of general concern in booster immunization are addressed, and the public health viewpoint that "Primary immunization of vaccines is fundamental, and booster immunization is the guarantee" is emphasized, so as to raise awareness of the importance and necessity of booster immunization as well as to provide scientific evidences for vaccine immunization practice.
Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; Public Health ; Immunization Schedule ; Vaccination ; Viral Vaccines

Objective: To investigate a SARS-CoV-2 epidemic reported in Rongcheng City, Weihai, Shandong Province. Methods: The SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positive patients and their close contacts were investigated, and the whole genome sequencing and genetic evolution analysis of 9 variant viruses were carried out. An infection source investigation and analysis were carried out from two sources of home and abroad, and three aspects of human, material and environment. Results: A total of 15 asymptomatic infections were reported in this epidemic, including 13 cases as employees of workshop of aquatic products processing company, with an infection rate of 21.67% (13/60). Two cases were infected people's neighbors in the same village (conjugal relation). The first six positive persons were processing workers engaged in the first process of removing squid viscera in the workshop of the company. The nucleic acid Ct value of the first time were concentrated between 15 and 29, suggesting that the virus load was high, which was suspected to be caused by one-time homologous exposure. The whole genome sequence of 9 SARS-CoV-2 strains was highly homologous, belonging to VOC/Gamma (Lineage P.1.15). No highly homologous sequences were found from previous native and imported cases in China. It was highly homologous with the six virus sequences sampled from May 5 to 26, 2021 uploaded by Chile. The infection source investigation showed that the company had used the squid raw materials captured in the ocean near Chile and Argentina from May to June 2021 over the last 14 days. Many samples of raw materials, products and their outer packages in the inventory were tested positive for nucleic acid. Conclusion: This epidemic is the first local epidemic caused by the VOC/Gamma of SARS-CoV-2 in China. It is speculated that the VOC/Gamma, which was prevalent in South America from May to June 2021, could be imported into China through frozen squid.
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; Epidemics ; China/epidemiology*

Objective:To analyze the risk factors and human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes distribution in patients with condyloma acuminatum (CA) in two regions of Shandong province.Methods:From August 2019 to December 2020, an anonymous questionnaire survey of CA patients was conducted in three hospitals in Jinan City and Jining City, Shandong Province, and samples were collected for HPV typing. Multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of CA recurrence. HPV typing was detected by PCR-reverse dot blot hybridization.Results:A total of 653 questionnaires were collected, and the valid questionnaires accounted for 98.77% (645/653). Recurrence of the disease occurred in 174 patients, with a recurrence rate of 26.98%. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of CA recurrence among residence time at current address, sexual frequency, genitalia cleaning, and knowledge of preventing HPV infection ( P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression showed that knowing how to prevent HPV infection was a significant factor that influences CA recurrence. A total of 428 patients underwent HPV typing, and the positive detection rate of HPV was 98.60% (422/428). The top three positive rates were HPV6 (57.58%), HPV11 (36.49%) and HPV16 (11.37%). The main type of infection was low-risk HPV, accounting for 51.42% (217/422). Conclusions:CA patients have the phenomenon of "separation of knowledge and action" , so it is necessary to strengthen health education and behavioral intervention, guide the population to correctly treat sexual behavior, and improve self-prevention awareness and risk awareness.