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

Objective To assess the risk of public health emergencies and communicable diseases concerned in the mainland of China in December 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 from 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 communicable diseases and public health emergencies, it is predicted that the incidence of public health emergencies in December would be higher than that in November. The risk of sporadic human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) would increase. It is the high incidence season of norovirus caused diarrhea and influenza. The risk of Ebola virus disease transmission into China still exists, but the possibility of large scale spread is very low. In northern China, coal-burning heating would cause more carbon monoxide poisoning. Conclusion It is predicted that the incidence of public health emergencies in December would be higher than that in November in 2015. Close attention should be paid to the risk of human infection of H7N9 virus, norovirus caused diarrhea, seasonal influenza, Ebola virus disease, Zika virus infection and non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning.