Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 50 5 2021 04 30 999 1008 Jing Jia Department of Acute Infectious Disease, Qingdao Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medi-cine, Qingdao, Shandong, China Fei Kong Sinopec Research Institute of Safety Engineering, Qingdao, Shandong, China Xueling Xin Department of Acute Infectious Disease, Qingdao Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong, China Jiwei Liang Department of Acute Infectious Disease, Qingdao Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong, China Hualei Xin Department of Acute Infectious Disease, Qingdao Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong, China Liyan Dong Department of Acute Infectious Disease, Qingdao Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong, China Fachun Jiang Department of Acute Infectious Disease, Qingdao Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Qingdao Institute of Prevention Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong, China 2019 07 15 2019 10 05 Background: In China, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks have become an important issue recent years. We analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of HFMD outbreaks in Qingdao during 2009-2018, and provided evidences for prevention and control of the disease. Methods: Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis and correlation analysis, and throat swabs were detected for enterovirus RNA using RT-PCR. Results: Overall, 116 HFMD outbreaks were reported in Qingdao during 2009-2018, with the epidemic of the outbreaks exhibiting a decreasing tendency. The characteristics of outbreaks presented two patterns, including two-peak pattern and rural area to urban-rural fringe area to urban areas pattern. Male patients were predominant in these outbreaks. The location of the outbreaks changed from nursery to community. Non-EV71/CA16 enteroviruses were gradually becoming predominant enteroviruses serotypes. The durations of outbreaks were positively correlated with response times and the number of cases. Conclusion: The epidemiological characteristics analysis of HFMD outbreaks could provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control the disease. Reporting and handling promptly are the keys to control epidemic outbreaks of HFMD. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/17768 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/17768/7227