Risk assessment of public health emergencies concerned in the mainland of China, July 2019

ObjectiveTo assess the risk of public health emergencies, both the indigenous ones and the imported ones, which might occur in the mainland of China in July, 2019.

MethodsAn 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 conference through video terminal.

ResultsGenerally speaking, it is predicted that the incidence of public health emergencies would be lower in July than in June, 2019. A vaccine derived polio virus type Ⅱ (VDPV2) case was identified in Sichuan province, and further spread is possible. It is the high-incidence season of dengue fever in the area where Aedes exists, and indigenous cases would continue to increase, indicating the increased risk of small outbreaks and the possibility of large scale outbreaks in these areas. It is the high incidence season of cholera, and sporadic cases or clusters might occur. The risk of outbreaks of respiratory infection caused by human adenovirus in places with crowds, such as institutions, schools or hospitals and others, still exists. The incidences of food poisoning and heat stroke would continue to be high. The risk of water-borne and food-borne infectious diseases in the areas affected by flood would increase. Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo would continue; however, the risk of spread to China is low.

ConclusionClose attention should be paid to the VDPV2 case identified in Sichuan and dengue fever, and general attention should be paid to cholera, human adenovirus caused respiratory infection, food poisoning, heat stroke, natural disaster, such as earthquake and flood, and EVD in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.