Spatial and temporal distribution， influencing factors and social response of cholera epidemic in Hubei Province in 1932
ZHANG Tao1,2,3, LI Jiasi1,2,3, CHEN Zhiyu1, TU Yina1,2,3, GONG Shengsheng1,2,3
1.College of Urban and Environmental Sciences， Central China Normal University， Wuhan 430079， China 2.Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Geoprocess Analysis and Simulation， Wuhan 430079， China 3.Center for Sustainable Development Studies， Central China Normal University， Wuhan 430079， China
Abstract：In 1932， during the nationwide cholera pandemic， Hubei Province was one of the hardest hit areas. Based on the perspective and methods of historical medical geography， this paper comprehensively examines the 1932 cholera epidemic in Hubei Province from three perspectives： spatial and temporal distribution， influencing factors， and social responses. The study found that， in terms of spatial and temporal distribution， the cholera epidemic in Hubei Province in 1932 was primarily concentrated in the summer， with peak severity in July and August. At least 19 counties experienced cholera outbreaks， with Hankou and Wuchang being the hardest hit areas. The cholera epidemic originated in Hankou and spread to various regions， primarily along five routes： the Yangtze River， the Han River， the Xianghua Highway， the Hanxiao Highway， and the Yuehan Railway. The spread of the cholera epidemic followed three patterns： expansion diffusion， migratory diffusion， and hierarchical diffusion. The influencing factors can be broadly categorized into four categories： ecological factors， inducing factors， driving factors， and inhibiting factors. Climate， topography， and rivers were ecological factors contributing to the cholera epidemic； floods were inducing factors； population mobility was a driving factor； and prevention and control measures were inhibiting factors. In terms of impact intensity， the order of influence of several quantifiable factors， from highest to lowest， is road network density， river network density， population density， average annual precipitation， and flooding. Regarding response measures， the Hubei Provincial Government’s measures primarily included strengthening epidemic prevention publicity， cholera vaccination， establishing isolation hospitals， and conducting health campaigns. Social groups’ measures included assisting government actions and independently carrying out relief efforts. Individual citizens’ measures included practicing self-help and resorting to spiritual practices. Experience in epidemic response included， first， effective implementation of treatment methods and， second， the joint efforts of the government， social groups， and the public to prevent the epidemic. Shortcomings in the epidemic response primarily reflected insufficient medical resources， incomplete health campaigns， and weak epidemic prevention awareness. This study can provide a theoretical and historical basis for future epidemic prevention and control efforts， enhancing public health awareness and capacity for epidemic prevention and disaster reduction.
张涛,李佳思,陈志禹,涂伊娜,龚胜生,. 湖北省1932年霍乱流行的时空分布、影响因素及社会应对[J]. 华中师范大学学报(自然科学版), 2025, 59(5): 773-787.
ZHANG Tao,LI Jiasi,CHEN Zhiyu,TU Yina,GONG Shengsheng,. Spatial and temporal distribution， influencing factors and social response of cholera epidemic in Hubei Province in 1932. journal1, 2025, 59(5): 773-787.
2025, Vol. 59 
