Risk assessment of global infectious disease events in June, 2024

Objective To detect global infectious disease events occurring outside mainland China in June 2024 and assess the importation risk to China and international travel risk.

Methods Utilizing open-source intelligence on the Internet, this study conducts event-based surveillance of priority infectious diseases and adopts the risk matrix methodology to build an indicator system by integrating disease-, country- and event-specific indicators in terms of transmission likelihood and severity of consequences in order to assess the risk of the importation and the risk of international travel.

Results In June 2024, 10 infectious diseases were detected to form events or outbreaks in 29 countries worldwide. In terms of importation risk to China, there are 29 low-risk events; in terms of international travel risk, there are 23 medium-risk events.

Conclusion It is recommended to pay moderate attention to the possible importation risk posed by Dengue fever in some countries in South America, Africa, and Asia, cholera in Mozambique, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, poliomyelitis in Angola, Chad, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Guinea, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger, Lassa fever in Nigeria, West Nile virus disease in Israel and yellow fever in Brazil. International travelers are advised to focus on dengue fever in Asian countries around China (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam) , Cholera outbreaks in Mozambique, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, poliomyelitis in Angola, Chad, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Guinea, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger, mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa, anthrax in Ethiopia, Lassa fever in Nigeria, West Nile virus disease in Israel, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever reported by Russia, Pakistan and Iraq; Australia reports cases of human infection with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza; Yellow fever cases reported in Brazil.