Objective To detect global infectious disease events occurring outside China in January 2026 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 January 2026, 18 infectious diseases were detected to form events or outbreaks in 39 countries worldwide. In terms of importation risk to China, there are 13 medium-risk events; in terms of international travel risk, there are 2 high-risk events and 27 medium-risk events.

Conclusion It is recommended to maintain general attention to the potential import risks posed by diphtheria in Nigeria, pertussis in the United States, dengue fever in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, chikungunya fever in Bolivia, Costa Rica, and the United States, hemorrhagic fever in Russia, measles in Kazakhstan and Nepal, Nipah virus disease in India, Middle East respiratory syndrome in Indonesia and Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Ghana. Regarding overseas travel risks, it is advised that travelers pay close attention to measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kazakhstan. Compared to December 2025, in January 2026, general attention should also be paid to the potential infection risks posed by diphtheria in South Africa; dengue fever in Timor-Leste, Peru, and El Salvador; hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Argentina; mpox in Madagascar; cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, South Sudan, and Nigeria; chikungunya fever in Bolivia; measles in Mexico, South Africa, Nepal, and Guatemala; and plague in Madagascar.