Primary analysis and evaluation of potential transmission risk of major parasitic diseases after Wenchuan Earthquake

Objective To evaluate the potential transmission and prevalence tendency of schistosomiasis, malaria and leishmaniasis in Sichuan Province after the Wenchuan Earthquake. Methods The epidemiological data and factors of schistosomiasis, malaria and leishmaniasis reported through the Infectious Disease Monitoring System and Parasites Diseases Annual Reports were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods. Results The results showed that both schistosomiasis and malaria endemic situation in Sichuan Province declined with yearly average rate of 34.78% and 24.58% from 2005 to 2007, respectively. Both schistosomiasis cases and snails still distribute in An, Mianzhu, Shffang and Pengzhou County. After the Earthquake, there was an increase of 26.9% malaria cases in June compared to those reported in the same period of 2007, and malaria cases were found in cities of Chengdu, Mianyang, Deyang, Aba, Guangyuan and Yaan, respectively. The cases of leishmaniasis reported has increased after 2006 and 8 leishmaniasis cases were reported after the Wenchuan Earthquake which mainly distributed in Man County. Conclusion As the conditions of nature, society and biology have greatly changed and sources of infection still exist in disaster areas after the Earthquake, the transmission risk of schistosomiasis, malaria and leishmaniasis in endemic areas of Sichuan Province remains high. Key words: Schistosomiasis;  Malaria;  Leishmaniasis;  Transmission risk;  Evaluation;  Wenchuan Earthquake;  Sichuan Province