Risk assessment of public health emergencies concerned in the mainland of China, October 2021

  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 October 2021.

  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 expected that the incidence of public health emergencies reported in October would increase compared with that in September. The risk of imported cases and secondary infections of COVID-19 would continue to exist, but would be controllable. Clusters and outbreaks of norovirus enteritis would increase significantly, still mainly in schools. Food poisoning would still be in a high incidence month, and the National Day holiday would be the peak of tourism and dinner, so it is expected that the number of reported incidents and poisoned people might increase. In autumn and winter, the risk of poisoning incidents caused by eating poisonous plants by mistake would increase.

  Conclusion   Special attention should be paid to COVID-19, and general attention should be paid to norovirus enteritis and food poisoning.