Cohort study of seroepidemiology on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome]

A cohort study of seroepidemiology on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) was carried out in two villages, Jiande County, Zhejiang Province. 1325 persons who had not had antibodies to HFRS in 1987 were interviewed and re-examined in 1988. Seroconversion to HFRS antibodies was found in 30 persons (2.26%). Among them, were two clinical cases with an incidence rate of 0.151% and the rate of inapparent infection was 2.12%. Ratio of apparent to inapparent infection was 1:14. No infection was observed in children aged 2-4 years and subjects aged 60 years and over. The rate was lower in 5-14 years age group (1.42%) than in those of 15-59 age groups (1.47-4.26%). The infection rate in males (2.57%) was slightly higher than in females (1.96%). Results of stratified analysis and logistic regression analysis showed that living in houses located at the village periphery, having straw stack out of the house and rearing cat were risk factors of HFRS infection and their ORs were 3.0932, 3.3629, and 4.9970 respectively. Antibodies and antigens of HFRS were detected in A. agrarius and R. norvegicus captured in the villages.