Space-time cluster detection of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome from 2007 to 2012 in Beijing of China

Objective To explore the spatial and temporal distributions and the cluster area of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).Methods The data of patients with HFRS from 2007 to 2012 were collected from the China Information System for Diseases Control and Prevention.The space-time scan statistic analysis was performed using SaTScan 9.1.1 software.ArcGIS 9.3 software was used to display the distribution and clusters of HFRS.Results 107 patients with HFRS were reported from 2007 to 2012 in Beijing.Purely temporal analysis showed that the peak months for HFRS were from April to June.The clusters of HFRS were found in outer suburb,inner suburb and the urban area by the purely spatial analysis and space-time scan analysis.Conclusions Although the patients with HFRS were sporadic,the space-time scan statistic can find the clusters both in time and space,which is helpful for surveillance and control of HFRS. Key words: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome;  Hantavirus;  Epidemiology;  Space-time scan statistics