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Objective: To understand the reporting situation of schistosomiasis cases in National Notifiable Disease Report System (NNDRS) in China from 2015 to 2017, and to seek current deficiencies on case reporting as well as to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of schistosomiasis cases., Methods: The data of schistosomiasis cases in China from 2015 to 2017 were collected from NNDRS, and the reporting situation and epidemiological characteristics of schistosomiasis cases were analyzed., Results: From 2015 to 2017, totally 59 981 schistosomiasis cases were reported in China, among which, 1 460 cases were deleted, and 58 521 were censored cases. The statistics and analysis showed that a part of the case reporting had been carried out in nonstandard ways, mainly involving the random deletion of cases, reporting time not compliance with regulations, incorrect classification, and severe omission of cases. Among the 58 521 censored cases, the sex ratio of the male to the female was 1.83∶1, the average age of the cases was (51.91 ± 11.30) years, and farmers and fishermen accounted for 93.26% (54 577 cases) and 3.46% (2 022 cases), respectively. The reported cases mainly concentrated in Anhui, Hunan, Hubei and Jiangxi provinces, accounting for 99.73% of the total number in China. During this period, Beijing, Zhejiang and other provinces (cities and regions) reported 11 imported schistosomiasis cases, all of them were schistosomiasis mansoni cases or schistosomiasis haematobia cases., Conclusions: From 2015 to 2017, the reported cases of schistosomiasis are mainly clinically diagnosed cases. Compared with the annual report of the national schistosomiasis control, the number of confirmed cases in NNDRS is seriously missed. Therefore, the endemic provinces should strengthen the supervision on confirmed cases and reporting quality of schistosomiasis cases in accordance with the relevant law and regulation.

China is one of the schistosomiasis-endemic countries with the highest burden of disease across the world. Following the control efforts for over 60 years, great successes have been achieved in schistosomiasis control in the country, and the control program is moving towards transmission interruption and elimination. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of publishing Chairman Mao Zedong's two poems entitled " Farewell to the God of Plague ", a series of activities that disseminate schistosomiasis control achievements have been conducted in China throughout 2018, including the development of Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era. After extensive discussion, collection and screening, and "Integration of all efforts, scientific control, willingness to dedication and swearing to wipe out the 'God of Plague' " was proposed as Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era. Integration of all efforts is a summary of administrative policy-making and population participation in Chinese schistosomiasis control programs; scientific control is the refinement of the Chinese national schistosmiasis control strategy that is developed and implemented tailoring to time and circumstances; willingness to dedication is a valuable spiritual wealth and inexhaustible source of power for Chinese schistosomiasis control professionals in the new era; and swearing to wipe out the "God of Plague" is a sacred mission assigned to Chinese professionals participating in the national schistosomiasis control program in the new era. Chinese spirit on schistosomiasis control in the new era will further strengthen our belief in achieving the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China eventually.

The Three-year Tough Action Plan for Endemic Diseases Control (2018 - 2020), which was formulated by 10 ministries of China, was issued on November 29, 2018. Schistosomiasis control is an important part of this plan, and the implementation of the plan provides an important basis for the health poverty alleviation and the fight against schistosomiasis in China. This paper describes the objective and principle of the plan and proposes "six actions" and supporting measures to implement the three-year tough action targeting schistosomiasis, with aims to guide the scientific implementation of the three-year tough action against schistosomiasis and facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in China.

This report presents the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China at national level in 2017, and analyzes the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) being endemic of schistosomiasis japonica in P. R. China, 5 provinces (municipality and autonomous region), i.e., Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, continued to consolidate the status of elimination of schistosomiasis. Sichuan Province achieved the transmission interruption and 6 provinces of Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan kept the transmission control by the end of 2017. There were 450 endemic counties (cities, districts) covering 259 million people, specifically including 28 544 endemic villages of 70 324.5 thousand people at risk. Among the 450 endemic counties (cities, districts), 47.78% (215/450), 34.00% (153/450) and 18.22% (82/450) reached the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control, respectively. By the end of 2017, a total of 8 401 113 individuals received schistosomiasis examinations and 14 individuals were parasitologically diagnosed, decreased by 97.67% compared with 600 cases in 2016. It was estimated of 37 601 cases of schistosome infection, decreased by 30.95% compared with 54 454 cases in 2016. One acute schistosomiasis case was reported in 2017. There were 29 407 advanced schistosomiasis cases documented in 2017. Oncomelania hupensis snail surveys were performed in 19 784 endemic villages and O. hupensis snails were found in 7 310 villages, accounting for 36.95% of total villages, with 19 newly detected villages with snails.The snail survey covered an area of 622454.49 hm 2 and snails were found in an area of 172501.56 hm 2 , including a newly detected area of 208.54 hm 2 . No schistosome-infected snails were found in 2017. A total of 737 016 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic areas. Of them, 454 830 bovines received the examinations for schistosome infection, and 1 bovine was stool examination positive. There were 119 326 schistosomiasis cases receiving chemotherapy in 2017, with 1 973 968 individuals undergoing expanded chemotherapy; one bovine with schistosomiasis receiving chemotherapy, with 418 925 bovines undergoing expanded chemotherapy. A total of 144 605.31 hm 2 area with snail was controlled by using molluscicides, with actual molluscicide-treated area of 73 755.37 hm 2 ; and 5 002.92 hm 2 area with snail was treated by environmental modification. Based on the data from the 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites, the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rate was 0.001 6% and 0 in humans and bovines, respectively. No schistosome-infected snails were found by microscopic examinations in all the surveillance sites, and 7 snail samples with schistosome nucleic acid positive were detected by loopmediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) among 6 surveillance sites. The results demonstrate a continuous decline trend on the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in P. R. China. However, the risk of epidemic rebound still exists in some regions and it is still a challenge to achieve the target set by the Thirteenth Five-Year National Plan for Schistosomiasis Control in 2020.

Schistosomiasis is an old and geographically widespread parasitic disease that severely damages human health and affects socioeconomic development in China. The implementation of the integrated strategy with emphasis on controlling the source of Schistosoma japonicum infection and the National Mid- and Long-Term Plan for Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control (2004 - 2015) in China greatly facilitated the progress towards the elimination of schistosomiasis in China. Since transmission control of schistosomiasis was achieved in 2015, the goal of the national schistosomiasis control program has moved to transmission interruption and elimination in China. Because of the impacts of natural and social factors, and the new situation, new task and new demands following the continuous decline in the endemic situation of schistosomiasis, several challenges exist to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination nationwide. This paper analyzed the current endemic status of schistosomiasis, progress and challenges of schistosomiasis elimination, and proposed some suggestions for the national chistosomiasis elimination program in China.

Objective: To understand the situation of Schistosoma japonicum infections in foating population and its epidemiological characteristics in China, so as to provide insights into the development of the surveillance strategy and interventions for schistosomiasis., Methods: According to the protocol of national surveillance project, indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) was employed for serological screening of S. japonicum infections among the floating population in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2005 to 2014, and the sero-positives were subjected to parasitological examinations. In addition, epidemiological analyses were performed to describe the characteristics of schistosomiasis in the floating population., Results: A total of 11 834 floating population were monitored at the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China during the study period, and 11 558 persons received serological tests, with 419 sero-positives screened. Then, 370 sero-positive floating populations were detected using parasitological examinations, and 25 stool positives were detected. The prevalence of S. japonicum infections significantly varied in time ( χ 2 = 15.103 7), occupations ( χ 2 = 115.182 7) and regions ( χ 2 = 13.177 5) in the study subjects during the study period (all P < 0.05) . A high adjusted prevalence of S. japonicum infections was seen in the boatmen and fishermen in several provinces., Conclusions: Boatmen and fishermen are at a high risk of S. japonicum infections among the floating population, and should be paid more attention to in future schistosomiasis surveillance and control activities due to their strong mobility and difficulty of monitoring.

Health education and health promotion are important measures for comprehensive control of schistosomiasis in China, which can improve the compliance rate of residents involved in schistosomiasis control activities, reduce the water contact behavior of the target population, thus avoiding or decreasing the infection of schistosome in endemic areas. In recent years, the comprehensive control of schistosomiasis in China has achieved remarkable results. China has reached the goal of transmission control and is moving toward the transmission interruption or even elimination of schistosomiasis. This article analyzes the role of health education and health promotion in schistosomiasis control programme and the current challenges. Meanwhile, suggestions are also put forward on how to conduct health education and health promotionin the stage of schistosomiasis elimination.

Parasitic diseases are common infectious diseases closely related to poverty, which are mainly endemic in the tropical and subtropical regions. Africa is the major epidemic area of parasitic diseases, and the global burden of malaria and schistosomiasis is over 85% in Africa. This paper reviews the disease burden, regional distribution and control strategies of the main parasitic diseases in Africa, in order to promote the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in this area.

Objective: To investigate the epidemic of major human parasitic diseases in Chongqing City, so as to provide a reference for developing prevention and control strategies., Methods: According to the unified methods formulated by the national investigation scheme and stratified cluster random sampling, 36 rural pilots and 50 urban pilots were selected in Chongqing City. The number of the objects investigated in individual pilot was defined over 250., Results: Totally 22 263 residents were detected. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasites was 5.41%. The infection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides , hookworm, Trichuris trichiura , and Enterobius vermicularis were 1.20%, 4.23%, 0.13% and 0.47% respectively. Only 0.22% of the infections were co-infections. The infection rate of overall intestinal parasites was statistically higher in the females than that in the males ( χ 2 = 15.19, P < 0.05), and the infection rates were significantly different among various age groups, occupations, education levels, and regions ( χ 2 = 15.19, 396.72, 421.07, 347.79, all P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The infection rates of major human parasites in Chongqing show an obviously decreasing tendency compared with the rates of the past twice of national surveys. In the future, the controlling practices are obliged to focus on reducing the infection rates of soil-borne parasites.

This paper reviews the huge promotion of Chairman Mao Zedong's two poems entitled "Farewell to the God of Plague" which were published 60 years ago, and the great achievements of the national schistosomiasis control programme in China. The publication of the two poems promotes the establishment of the mechanism for the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, and in addition, the schistosomiasis control spirit of the people from Yujiang County is still the source of power for the promotion of transferring the schistosomiasis control to elimination stage in China. Now, that we commemorate the 60th anniversary of publishing Chairman Mao Zedong's two poems entitled "Farewell to the God of Plague" means we remain the true to our original aspiration to serve the people forever, which is also to promote the progress of schistosomiasis elimination in China according to the law, the scientific principle, and local conditions, so as to contribute our efforts for realizing the healthy China's dream.

The Regional Network for Asian Schistosomiasis and Other Helminth Zoonoses (RNAS + ) plays an important role in promoting the research and control of helminthes in Asia. The development course of RNAS + is summarized in this article and the information of RNAS + annual meeting is collected. The questionnaire survey and expert interview are used to evaluate the role of RNAS + in promoting the prevention and control of helminthes in various Asian countries. The experience of RNAS + operation and its future development are summarized.

This report presents the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China at national level in 2016, and analyzes the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 454 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) of endemic of schistosomiasis japonica in P. R. China, 5 provinces (municipality and autonomous region), i.e., Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, had achieved elimination, and 7 provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan had achieved transmission control by the end of 2016. There are 451 endemic counties (cities, districts) covering 257 million people, specifically including 29 692 endemic villages of 69.39 million people at risk. Among the 451 endemic counties (cities, districts), 35.25 % (159/451), 42.35% (191/451) and 22.39% (101/451) reached the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control, respectively in 2016. By the end of 2016, it was estimated of 54 454 infections of schistosome, decreased by 29.46% compared with 77 194 in 2015. No acute schistosomiasis case was reported in 2016. There were 30 573 advanced schistosomiasis cases documented in 2016. A total of 8 500 710 individuals received schistosomiasis examinations and 600 individuals were parasitologically diagnosed, decreased by 83.36% compared with 3 606 in 2015. The Oncomelania hupensis snail survey was performed in 22 140 endemic villages and O. hupensis snails were found in 7 106 villages, accounting for 32.109% of the total villages, with 20 newly detected villages with snails. The snail survey covered area of 813 963.91 hm 2 and snails were found in an area of 235 096.04 hm 2 , including a newly detected area of 1 346.48 hm 2 . No schistosome-infected snails were found in 2016. A total of 881 050 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic area. Of them, 510 468 bovines received examinations, resulting in 8 schistosome-infected bovines. There were 147 642 schistosomiasis cases receiving drug treatment in 2016, with 2 303 555 individuals undergoing expanded chemotherapy; there were 9 bovines with schistosomiasis receiving drug treatment, with 439 857 bovines undergoing expanded chemotherapy; a total of 139 483.84 hm 2 area with snail control by using molluscicides, with actual molluscicide-treated area of 73 941.75 hm 2 ; and 3 101.52 hm 2 snail habitants were treated by environmental modification. Based on the data from the 454 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites, the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rate was 0.02% and 0.0078% in humans and bovines, respectively. No schistosome-infected snails were found in all the surveillance sites. The results demonstrate a decline in the endemicity of schistosomiasis in P. R. China compared with the level of 2015. However, the distribution area of snails in China is still large and the infection source of schistosomiasis still exists to some extent in some endemic areas; in some regions, the task to reach the standard of transmission interruption is still arduous. There are still objective factors of epidemic and transmission and risk factors of endemic reversal and rebound for schistosomiasis. So, further control and effective surveillance as well as accurate prevention and control should be implemented to promote the elimination process on schistosomiasis in P. R. China.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported malaria reported in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015, so as to provide the evidence for improving the imported malaria control strategies., Methods: The epidemiological data of overseas imported malaria cases were collected and analyzed descriptively for the species, original countries, diagnosis and treatment in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015., Results: A total of 148 overseas imported malaria cases were reported in Chongqing City from 2011 to 2015, in which 96 (65.54%) cases were falciparum malaria, and 37 (24.32%) cases were vivax malaria; 125 (84.46%) cases were infected in Africa, and the rest of 23 (15.54%) cases were infected in Southeast Asia. Most of the patients were 30 to 50 years old male workmen, and the ratio of male to female was 11.42:1. There was no obvious seasonal distribution among the reported timelines of the cases; however, there were two small peaks from June to August and from January to February. The median interval time of imported malaria cases from malaria onset to see a doctor was 1 day and from seeing the doctor to get malaria diagnosis was 2 days. The patients' first selected institutions were county medical institutions (50 cases, 33.78%), then provincial medical institutions (36 cases, 24.325%) and private doctors (20 cases, 13.51%), and only 79 (53.38%) patients got malaria diagnoses in their first selected institutions. The standard treatment were provided to 142 (95.54%) cases. There were 43 (29.05%) patients had serious complications and three patients were dead., Conclusions: It is very important to enhance the multi-sector's collaboration to establish the collaborative investigation mechanism for screening malaria patients, and strengthen malaria health education for overseas workers and training courses in primary care medical institutions.

Objective: To analyze the investigation data of the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites in 2015, so as to provide scientific evidences for schistosomiasis control, elimination and surveillance., Methods: According to National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Programme (version 2014), 457 surveillance sites were selected, and the investigation data in residents, floating population, domestic animals and Oncomelania hupensis snails were collected and analyzed from four types of endemic counties., Results: A total of 4 468 seropositive cases were detected from 133 350 residents, among which 4 457 residents with seropositive results received the etiological tests, and 71 of them were identified with positive results. Most of them were fishermen and farmers in the middle and old-aged group. The schistosomiasis infection rate was 0.05% in local population. Totally 977 seropositive cases were examined from 85 047 migrant individuals, and 16 positive cases were found out from 966 individuals who took etiological tests, which showed the schistosomiasis infection rate was 0.02% in floating population. Imported cases were found among floating people in four provinces, namely Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei and Anhui provinces. No acute schistosomiasis cases were reported. A total of 13 406 head of cattle received examinations and only 5 were determined as stool positives. The cattle infection rate was 0.04%. The snail survey covered an area of 22 295.13 hm 2 and snails were found in an area of 7 426.63 hm 2 , including 3.47 hm 2 newly detected area with snails. No schistosome-infected snails were found., Conclusions: Based on the collected data from 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China, the Schistosoma japonicum infection rate is 0.05% in local population which maintains a stably descending trend. In floating population, there are imported schistosome-in-fected persons. Cattle are still a vulnerable species infected with schistosome. Although no infected snails are found, snails are widely distributed in endemic areas. Some provinces detect areas with snails for the first time or the reproduction of snails. The staff in endemic provinces should carry out the surveillance work according to National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Programme (version 2014) to improve the surveillance system, and enhance the sensibility and effectiveness of surveillance work.

Oncomelania hupensis is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum . The elimination of Oncomelania snails is the key technique step for schistosomiasis control. This paper summarizes the progress of the techniques of snail control, including the methods of ecology engineering, biology, molluscicides and the study on novel molluscicides, and reviews their features. In addition, this paper explores the appropriate approach to control the snails.

This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China at a national level in 2015, and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality, autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis japonica in P. R. China, 5 provinces (municipality, autonomous region), i.e., Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, had achieved transmission interruption, and 7 provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan had achieved transmission control by the end of 2015. There were 453 endemic counties (city, district) covering 252 million people, specifically including 29 980 endemic villages of 68.61 million people at risk of infection. Among the 453 endemic counties (city, district), 75.72% (343/453) and 24.28% (110/453) reached the criteria of transmission interruption and transmission control, respectively. By the end of 2015, it was estimated of 77 194 cases of schistosomiasis, which were decreased by 33.23% compared with 115 614 cases in 2014. No acute schistosomiasis cases were reported in 2015. There were 30 843 advanced schistosomiasis cases documented in 2015. A total of 8 736 036 individuals received schistosomiasis examinations and 3 606 individuals were parasitologically diagnosed, which were decreased by 56.40% compared with 8 270 cases in 2014. An Oncomelania hupensis snail survey was performed in 19 965 endemic villages and the snails were found in 5 609 villages, accounting for 28.09% of total villages, with 31 newly detected villages with snails. The snail survey covered an area of 593 572.66 hm 2 and snails were found in an area of 173 462.50 hm 2 , including a newly detected area of 666.04 hm 2 . No infected snails were found in 2015. A total of 879 373 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic regions. Of them, 526 062 bovines received stool examinations, resulting in 315 infected bovines. There were 170 438 schistosomiasis cases receiving drug treatment in 2015, with 2 449 696 individuals undergoing expanded chemotherapy. There were 318 bovines with schistosomiasis receiving drug treatment, with 483 213 bovines undergoing expanded chemotherapy. A total of 144 305.52 hm 2 area was subject to snail control by using molluscicides, with an actual molluscicide-treated area of 69 221.57 hm 2 , and 4 572.06 hm 2 snail habitats were treated by environmental modification. Based on the data from the 457 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites, the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rate was 0.05% and 0.04% in humans and bovines, respectively. No infected snails were found in all the surveillance sites. The results demonstrate a decline in the endemicity of schistosomiasis in P. R. China and the country reached the criteria of transmission control at the national level. However, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis is unstable in some regions with newly-reached transmission control, and further control and effective surveillance should be strengthened to consolidate the achievements and reduce the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in P. R. China.