Risk assessment of public health emergencies concerned in the mainland of China, August 2018

Objective To assess the risk of public health emergencies, both the indigenous ones and the imported ones, which might occur in the mainland of China in August 2018.

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 in all provincial centers for disease control and prevention attended this video conference.

Results Generally speaking, it is predicted that the epidemics of chicken pox and mumps would decrease in August, but more epidemics of dengue fever, hand foot and mouth disease and cholera might occur. The risk of imported and indigenous dengue fever cases would keep increasing. It is still the high incidence season of food poisoning, especially poisonous mushroom poisoning, and heatstroke. Disaster affected communities are at high risks of waterborne, foodborne, vector-borne diseases and other contagious communicable diseases.

Conclusion Close attention should be paid to dengue fever, vaccine-derived poliovirus detected in sewage sample collected in Xinjiang, food poisoning and heatstroke, and general attention should be paid to the public health risk caused by nature disaster such as flood.