Effect of Meteorological Conditions on Occurrence of Intestinal Epidemic in Lanzhou, China

This paper discusses the influence of meteorological conditions on the occurrence of bacillary dysentery in Lanzhou. Understanding the meteorological conditions that bring on outbreaks can provide a scientific basis for the implementation of preventive countermeasures and cures effective against bacillary dysentery. Here an analysis of 11,909 cases of bacillary dysentery in Lanzhou has been carried out. The correlation analysis was made for the disease numbers and meteorological factors. It was found that bacillary dysentery occurs throughout the whole year but has obvious seasonal characteristics. It occurs mainly in summer and autumn and the climax is in July and August. The disease incidences have a high rate of correlation with the monthly average temperature, the highest temperature, the lowest temperature, air pressure and rainfall. Correlation coefficients are all above 0.60 at 0.01 levels. The coefficient of air pressure and disease number is negative, while others are positive. Among the eight districts (counties), the highest incidence of bacillary dysentery was in Xigu district, 382.32/100,000. The lowest incidence was in Gaolan, 56.93/100,000. Bacillary dysentery is an epidemic affected by many factors, and meteorological factors are very important exogenous ones. Strengthening the management on the epidemic, reinforcing the power of health education, especially improving knowledge of sanitation and the prophylaxis of bacillary dysentery, changing sanitation habits, and ameliorating hygiene conditions are effective ways to reduce the onset of bacillary dysentery.