Analysis of epidemic characteristics of COVID-19 clusters in Chenzhou， Hunan Province

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of 8 clusters of coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） in Chenzhou City， and provide scientific basis for epidemic prevention and control.

MethodsDescriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted for 8 COVID-19 clusters， comparing and analyzing the differences of infection rates among close contacts within and outside the family， and emphatically describing two typical cases.

Results8 COVID-19 clusters were reported in Chenzhou with a total of 31 cases from January to February， 2020. The main source of infection of the family index cases was Hubei Province. Cough symptoms were observed in 67.74% of the cases， followed by fever （54.84%）. The infection rate of close contacts within the family （55.00%） was higher than that outside the family （2.56%）， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=28.177， P<0.001）. The infection rate of spouse of the family index cases was 85.71%， higher than that of parents （77.78%）， other family members （44.44%） and children （40.00%）， and the difference was not statistically significant （χ²=6.004， P=0.120）. Two typical cases suggested that both COVID-19 pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic patients have the potential to excrete the virus from the body and become sources of infection.

ConclusionEffective family prevention and control measures and early sampling and screening of people in key epidemic areas are conducive to early detection， early isolation and early treatment of infected people， so as to avoid the occurrence and spread of family clusters.