Abstract: Objective To explore forensic pathology features of the fatal trichinosis cases and to summarize the population distribution characteristics of trichinosis in Yunnan. Methods Nine recent fatal trichinosis cases were collected from the Forensic Science Identification Center of Kunming Forensic Hospital. Pathological and epidemiological characteristics of trichinosis were analyzed. Results The nine cases were all died in heart failure due to myocarditis. Among them, 1 case was complicated by encephalitis and 3 cases were complicated by pneumonia. The population mainly involved Bai and Dai nationalities. The geographic distribution was concentrated in Dali, Dehong, Lincang, Xishuangbanna, etc. The cases commonly appeared in winter and spring. Conclusion The cause of trichinosis is closely due to the habit of eating raw pork. It can be diagnosis through the pathological changes of the muscle system in the death cases.

Key words: forensic pathology, epidemiology, trichinosis, Yunnan