China moves to raise public awareness of schistosomiasis

BEIJING -- The Chinese disease control authority has launched a week-long campaign to increase public awareness of schistosomiasis, an infectious parasitic disease caused by blood flukes.

According to a statement issued by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, the campaign, running from April 8 to 14, focuses on publicity efforts targeting key regions and key population groups vulnerable to schistosomiasis infection.

Schistosomiasis, a Class B infectious disease in China, was previously commonly recorded in 12 provincial-level regions in the Yangtze River Basin and to the south of the river. People become infected after contact with water infested with larval forms of blood flukes.

An outline for "Healthy China 2030," issued in 2016, called for eliminating schistosomiasis in all endemic counties nationwide by 2030.