Epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies in Jinhua, Zhejiang, 2008−2020

  Objective  To understand epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, from 2008 to 2020, and provide scientific evidence for public health emergency response and control.

  Methods  The incidence data of public health emergencies in Jinhua from 2008 to 2020 were collected from the public health emergency management information system, a subsystem of national disease prevention and control information system in China, for a descriptive epidemiological analysis.

  Results  A total of 152 public health emergencies were reported in Jinhua from 2008 to 2020, including 61 general events and 91 unclassified events. The events reported were mainly infectious diseases epidemics (134 events, 88.15%), followed by poisoning events (16 events, 10.53%). The annual incidence peaks of the public health emergencies were during April-May and during November-January. Infectious diseases epidemics and food poisoning events mainly occurred in schools and childcare settings. Acute occupational poisoning cases, other poisoning cases and insect-borne infectious disease cases were mainly fatal.

  Conclusion  The public health emergencies in Jinhua were mainly infectious disease epidemics. Schools and childcare settings were the key places for disease prevention and control, and the surveillance and early warning of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases in schools and childcare settings should be strengthened. Meanwhile, it is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of public health emergencies which might causing deaths, such as other poisoning event and insect-borne infectious disease epidemic, improve health education and conduct timely detection and response of public health emergencies for the early control.