Analysis on public health standards for communicable disease prevention and control in China

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 notifiable communicable disease prevention and control, and 62 field specific standards had been in effect or had been planned to develop for non-notifiable 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 notifiable communicable diseases have been relatively well-established in China, but problems still remain in the research of diagnostic criteria for non-notifiable 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.