Objective: To assess the impact of the "4 x 20" Lushan Earthquake on the risk of schistosomiasis transmission in Lushan and Tianquan counties, so as to provide the evidence for formulating appropriate measures for schistosomiasis prevention and control.
Methods: Based on a comprehensive literature review, an analysis of schistosomiasis monitoring data in the earthquake affected counties, and a field investigation, a rapid assessment on the impact of the earthquake on schistosomiasis was conducted.
Results: Lushan and Tianquan counties were two endemic areas of schistosomiasis with high transmission level in history, especially Lushan County where Oncomelania snail distribution/density was the highest in Sichuan Province. After the earthquake, the streams and damaged ditches were blocked up, potentially leading to the spread of Oncomelania snails, and the damaged sanitary facilities may also lead to the release of excrement, contaminating the environment where snails resided. Meanwhile, the people who were relocated due to the earthquake may have higher exposures to contaminated environment. In addition, increasing population mobility (e.g. relief workers) also had the potential to bring infection sources in the earthquake affected areas. Further, animals, which may serve as reservoirs for the parasite such as homeless dogs, may also add the complexity of local schistosomiasis transmission.
Conclusions: The epidemic risk of schistosomiasis in Lushan and Tianquan counties is high. To prevent the outbreak and epidemic of schistosomiasis, the victim settlements should be established appropriately and the excrement should be managed carefully. Meanwhile, the snail control should be carried out in the high-risk environments. The health education, monitoring, patient treatments and expanded chemotherapy should be carried out and strengthened.