[Assessment of schistosomiasis transmission risk after flood damage in Wuhan City].

Objective: To assess the schistosomiasis transmission risk after flood damage in Wuhan City.

Methods: Schistosomiasis epidemic villages in Wuhan City were selected by using probability proportional to size sampling (PPS). The field investigations of snails, the activity of people and cattle on marshland, water infectivity of schistosome, reservoir host infection and wild feces contamination were conducted. I-III levels of risk environments were assessed and treated with appropriate measures.

Results: A total of 90 schistosomiasis epidemic villages and 170 environments were monitored. Totally 9 811 snails were dissected but no infected snails were found. There were significant decreases in the density of snails and the survival rate of living snails after the flood ( = 102.517, = 4.724, both < 0.01). Totally 289 pieces of wild feces were captured, and no eggs of were detected. A total of 11 surveillance and forecast sites were detected on water systems, and 221 sentinel mice were placed. After breeding, 219 sentinel mice survived (99.10%), and no schistosome infection was detected. In addition, 1 720 mouse traps were placed in 3 survey sites, and 66 were captured, and no schistosome-infected ones were found. All of the environments were assessed as Grade III. Meanwhile, 5 key schistosomiasis control areas were determined, and no emergency happened after the implementation of comprehensive control interventions.

Conclusions: The risk of schistosomiasis transmission remains low in Wuhan City after the flood, but the potential epidemic risk cannot be ignored.