Risk assessment of public health emergencies and communicable diseases concerned in the mainland of China, August 2015

Objective To assess the risk of public health emergencies and communicable diseases concerned in the mainland of China in August 2015. Methods An internet based expert counsel was conducted to analyze the surveillance data of public health emergencies and priority communicable diseases in China reported through different channels, and the experts of all the provincial centers for disease control and prevention attended this video conference. Results According to the analysis of recent and previous surveillance data of public health emergencies and communicable diseases, it is predicted that the overall numbers of public health emergencies and communicable disease cases would be still at lower level in August. The risk of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) from South Korea is very low, however the risk of MERS from the Middle East still exist, but the possibility of large scale spread is very low. Because it is summer and dengue fever epidemics are serious in neighboring countries, the risks of dengue fever and other insect-borne communicable disease outbreaks would increase in some provinces in China. As well as the risks of enteric infectious disease outbreaks, such as typhoid fever/paratyphoid fever. Besides, more heatstroke and food poisoning would occur. Conclusion It is predicted that the numbers of public health emergencies and communicable disease cases would be lower in August in China. It is necessary to pay close attention to the prevention and control of dengue fever, typhoid fever/paratyphoid fever, MERS, heatstroke and food poisoning.