Changing trends in human brucellosis in pastoral and agricultural China, 2004–2019: A Joinpoint regression analysis

Abstract

Background Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species, poses a significant public health concern in China, particularly in pastoral and areas. The incidence of human brucellosis has risen sharply in China but little is known about trends in pastoral and agricultural areas respectively. Methods Annual and monthly incidence and numbers of reported cases of human brucellosis in regional China between 2004 and 2019 were accessed from the National Public Health Science Data Sharing Center, and the annual percentage change (APC) in pastoral and agricultural areas was calculated. Annual and monthly trends were analyzed by the Joinpoint regression model. Results 569016 cases of human brucellosis were reported between 2004 and 2019 with a peak in 2014. A trend of increasing incidence was found (AAPC = 6.3%, 95% CI: 3.2–9.4%) with higher rates in pastoral areas but greater mean increases in agricultural (AAPC = 9.4) and agricultural/pastoral areas (AAPC = 7.7) than in pastoral areas (AAPC = 5.9). Infections occurred throughout the year with a concentration of cases between March and July. Increasing monthly incidence was found in all types of areas from January to May (APC > 0) and a decreasing monthly trend was seen from May to December (APC < 0, p < 0.05). Conclusions The incidence of human brucellosis was higher in pastoral areas of China than in agricultural/pastoral or agricultural areas, however, the rate of increase was higher in agricultural/pastoral and agricultural areas than in pastoral areas. Epidemic surveillance should be strengthened in key counties (cities, districts) and prevention and control measures increased nationwide.