Risk assessment of public health emergencies and communicable diseases concerned in the mainland of China, June 2015

Objective To assess the risk of public health emergencies and communicable diseases concerned in the mainland of China in June 2015. 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 the provincial centers for disease control and prevention attended this video conference. Results One imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) from South Korea was detected in Guangdong province, but the risk of the further spread of MERS-CoV is low. In 2015, the incidence of dengue fever would peak early, and the situation would be more serious in June. The incidence of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is still in increase and would peak in June. Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa has been mitigated dramatically, the disease has been under control in Liberia, and the transmissions in Guinea and Sierra Leone are at low level. Sporadic human infection with influenza A (H7N9) virus would still occur because no obvious changes in H7N9 virus' etiological characteristics and case's infection route and pattern were observed. The incidence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) increased obviously in May, and would continue to increase in June, but the risk of large scale outbreak is low. The incidence of food poisoning would increase in June, which would be mainly caused by microorganisms, and the death due to food poisoning would be mainly caused by poisonous plants or mushrooms. Conclusion It is predicted that the incidence of public health emergencies would be lower in June than in May in China, which would be attributed to the decline of the incidence of communicable diseases, however, the incidence of food poisoning would increase. Close attention should be paid to the prevention and control of MERS, dengue fever and HFMD.