Risk assessment of global infectious disease events in March 2026

Objective To detect global infectious disease events occurring outside China in March 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 March 2026, 13 infectious diseases were detected to form events or outbreaks in 58 countries worldwide. In terms of importation risk to China, there are 22 medium-risk events; in terms of international travel risk, there are 9 high-risk events and 33 medium-risk events.

Conclusion It is recommended to maintain general attention to the potential import risks posed by measles in Nepal, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Japan, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Guatemala, dengue fever in Taiwan region of China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Mexico, meningococcal meningitis in the United Kingdom and Thailand, cholera in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Taiwan region of China, and diphtheria in Australia. Regarding overseas travel risks, compared to February 2026, in March 2026, it is advised that travelers pay close attention to measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Guatemala. General attention should also be paid to the potential infection risks posed by dengue fever in Mali, Sudan, Chile, Bolivia, New Zealand, and Honduras, measles in Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Latvia, the United States, Japan, and Canada, chikungunya fever in Suriname and Argentina, meningococcal meningitis in the United Kingdom and Thailand, yellow fever in Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, Bolivia, Peru, and Venezuela, Lassa fever in Nigeria, and diphtheria in South Africa.