Risk assessment of public health emergencies concerned in the mainland of China, January 2019

Objective To assess the risks of public health emergencies, both the indigenous ones and imported ones, which might occur in the mainland of China in January 2019.

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 The incidence of public health emergencies reported in January would lower than that in December 2018, which might mainly be the epidemics of chickenpox, seasonal influenza, mumps and other infectious diarrheal diseases. Sporadic cases of human infection with avian influenza virus might still occur. The activity level of seasonal influenza would continue to rise. The incidence of norovirus caused infectious diarrhea declined but still remained at high level, and the outbreaks could still be witnessed in schools. The epidemic of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still serious, the possibility of imported cases to China still exists, but the risk of widespread in China caused by imported cases is very low. The incidence of non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning would keep at high level in January.

Conclusion Close attention should be paid to seasonal influenza, human infection with avian influenza virus and non-occupational carbon monoxide poisoning, and general attention should be paid to norovirus caused infectious diarrhea and Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.