Objective: To analyze the epidemic situation and spatial distribution of schistosomiasis in Hubei province.
Methods: Data on schistosomiasis endemic in humans were retrospectively collected at the county level from 2008 to 2012. Data on endemic schistosomiasis were matched to Geographic Information System (GIS) and geospatial databases to constitute the spatial database for analysis on schistosomiasis. Spatial aggregation of Schistosoma (S.) japonicum infection was analyzed by global spatial autocorrelation, using the Moran's I index and local spatial autocorrelation of the Getis-Ord Gi* index.
Results: Both the number of schistosomiasis patients and the rate of infection on S. japonicum decreased from 2008 to 2012. Results from the global autocorrelation analysis on the prevalence of human S. japonicum infection for 5 years were statistically significant (Moran's I>0, P<0.01). From local autocorrelation analysis, data showed that the number of highly aggregated areas ranged from eight to eleven within the five-year period. The highly aggregated areas were mainly distributed in eight counties, namely Jingzhou district, Shashi district, Jiangling county, Gongan county, Shishou city,Jianli county, Honghu city, and Chibi city.
Conclusion: Spatial agglomerations were present in the distribution of human S. japonicum infection from 2008 to 2012. Highly cluster areas were mainly distributed in the Yangtze River Basin of Jianghan Plain area.