Abstract: Objective To understand the situations of report and response to the public health emergency of hand food and mouth disease (HFMD) in China and provide evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD. Methods The data of HFMD epidemic in China from 2008 to 2009 were collected from national public health emergency reporting information system to conduct descriptive analysis. Results In 2008, a total of 113 public health emergencies of HFMD were reported, and 507 HFMD outbreaks were reported in 2009, an increase of 157.14% compared with 2008. More areas reported HFMD outbreaks, but the reported case numbers and large scale outbreaks decreased. The timeliness of outbreak reporting increased and the duration of outbreak decreased. Up to 73.24% and 71.67% of the HFMD outbreaks occurred in child care settings respectively in 2008 and 2009, most of which were reported by CDCs, a few of them were reported by child care settings. In the response of HFMD outbreaks, effective measures were taken to control the spread of the disease. It was found that the outbreak of HFMD was associated with the public health awareness, rural hygiene and sanitation and child care settings basic condition. Conclusion The reporting and response of HFMD outbreak by CDCs was improved in China in 2009, but the active detection and reporting of HFMD by child care settings should be improved. The prevention and control of HFMD outbreak will be carried out for long time because of multi risk factors.