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- Title
Risk Factors for Bunyavirus-Associated Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, China.
- Authors
Ding, Fan; Guan, Xu-Hua; Kang, Kai; Ding, Shu-Jun; Huang, Li-Yong; Xing, Xue-Sen; Sha, Sha; Liu, Li; Wang, Xian-Jun; Zhang, Xiao-Mei; You, Ai-Guo; Du, Yan-Hua; Zhou, Hang; Vong, Sirenda; Zhang, Xiao-Dong; Feng, Zi-Jian; Yang, Wei-Zhong; Li, Qun; Yin, Wen-Wu
- Abstract
Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging disease that is caused by a novel bunyavirus, referred to as SFTS virus. During January 2011 to December 2011 we conducted a case-control study in Henan, Hubei and Shandong Provinces of China to determine the risk factors for SFTS. Methods: Case-patients were identified in hospitals and reported to provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while being notified electronically to the National Surveillance System. Controls were randomly selected from a pool of patients admitted to the same hospital ward within one week of the inclusion of the cases. They were matched by age (+/−5 years) and gender. Results: A total of 422 patients participated in the study including 134 cases and 288 matched controls. The median age of the cases was 58.8 years, ranging from 47.6 to 70.1 years; 54.5% were male. No differences in demographics were observed between cases and controls; however, farmers were frequent and more common among cases (88.8%) than controls (58.7%). In multivariate analysis, the odds for SFTS was 2.4∼4.5 fold higher with patients who reported tick bites or presence of tick in the living area. Other independent risk factors included cat or cattle ownership and reported presence of weeds and shrubs in the working environment. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that ticks are important vectors of SFTS virus. Further investigations are warranted to understand the detailed modes of transmission of SFTS virus while vector management, education on tick bites prevention and personal hygiene management should be implemented for high-risk groups in high incidence areas. Author Summary: Since 2009, an emerging infectious disease which was identified as the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was reported in rural areas of Hubei, Shandong and Henan provinces in China. A novel bunyavirus designated severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome bunyavirus (SFTSV) had been identified to be the etiological cause of SFTS. But what risk factors lead to the disease is still not clear. Further investigations for risk factors are needed to effectively prevent and control the disease. Here we have designed case-control study to try to develop the risk factors of the spread of SFTSV. It is hoped that our research could provide epidemiological evidence for further study. Also help to determine the spread of the virus in the environment.
- Subjects
HUBEI Sheng (China); HENAN Sheng (China); SHANDONG Sheng (China); DISEASE risk factors; FEVER; THROMBOCYTOPENIA; SYNDROMES; HOSPITAL wards; SNAKEBITES; EMERGING infectious diseases
- Publication
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2014, Vol 8, Issue 10, p1
- ISSN
1935-2727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0003267