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

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

ResultsIt is predicted that the incidence of public health emergencies would be higher in October than in September 2019, but it might be lower than the average of same period in previous three years. During the National Day vacation and in Beijing, close attention needs to be paid to influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases, norovirus diseases and other enteral infectious diseases, imported infectious diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Ebola virus disease (EVD). It is the high-incidence season of dengue fever in the area where Aedes exists, and local transmission would continue. Influenza activity level is low now, and it is suggested to strengthen the influenza vaccination before influenza season. Food poisoning incidence would decline in October. EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo would continue, but the risk of spread to China is low. During 7-day vacation of the National Day, Chinese citizens should pay attention to the risks of infectious diseases, such as dengue fever, cholera, seasonal influenza, and food poisoning in domestic travel and the risk of dengue fever, cholera, cholera, EVD, Zika virus disease, yellow fever and MERS in international travel.

ConclusionClose attention should be paid to the public health risk during the National Day vaccination and dengue fever, and general attention should be paid to seasonal influenza, food poisoning, travel related health risk and EVD in Democratic Republic of Congo.