Risk assessment of public health emergency and concerned infectious diseases in China, July 2013

Objective Assess the risk of public health emergency and concerned infectious diseases in China, July 2013. Methods Semi-structured interviews and discussions among subject matter experts are performed based on surveillance data and public institute bulletins, et al. Results As the summer vacation approach, the number of the reported national public health emergency events for July may see a downtrend. But July is the high season for the enteric infectious disease and insect-borne infectious disease happening. The reported case number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) will be lower than June, but is still on a high level. Food-poisoning events may still on the rise. As the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) cases number is still increasing, it should get the global attention. In July, the secondary public health impact could be caused by climate condition and nature disaster. Conclusion It is expected that the national public health emergencies and epidemic situation of infectious diseases in July 2013, would be similar as the July before. We need to strengthen surveillance and preparedness for MERS and food poisoning.