Objective To understand the current status of public health standards for communicable disease prevention and control, including the national ones and field specific ones, in China, and provid evidence for the future research of public health standards for communicable disease prevention and control.

Methods Literature retrieval and data analysis method were used to analyzes the current status and needs of national and field specific public health standards in China.

Results The analysis indicated that, as of October 31, 2025, a total of 11 national standards and 97 field specific standards had been in effect or had been planned to develop for infectious diseases included in the List of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (statutorily listed infectious diseases). A total of 62 field specific standards had been in effect or had been planned to develop for other infectious disease prevention and control in China, including 36 standards about prevention management, surveillance and early warning, emergency response, and intervention evaluation.

Conclusion Currently, the diagnostic criteria for statutorily listed infectious diseases have been relatively well-established in China, but problems still remain in the research of diagnostic criteria for other infectious diseases. The development of standards related to the prevention and control of communicable diseases is still in its early stages, lacking a comprehensive support system. It is necessary to improve standards for communicable disease prevention and control in all respects, expand expert database, and enhance participation to support the modernization of public health governance and communicable disease prevention and control in China.