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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world. As many countries have entered the postpandemic period, current efforts to prevent and control COVID-19 have gradually been normalized in many countries. Although the focus is on vaccines to achieve herd immunity, conventional physical containment strategies should be reassessed as part of efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases. Continued respiratory protective measures such as social distancing and the wearing of masks have been extensively accepted by the public in most countries. A point worth noticing is that the activities of influenza and other respiratory diseases have decreased as these strategies have been implemented. Public mobilization and large-scale campaigns to promote health are also important to interrupting the transmission of pathogens. A good example can be found in the achievements of China's Patriotic Public Health Campaign. These practices underscore the importance of enhancing physical containment strategies and public mobilization and management, with support from the legal system, to respond to any potential emerging infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed that infectious diseases will present a significant worldwide threat for a long time in the future. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDCs) worldwide have developed for nearly 80 years to fight against infectious disease and protect public health. However, at the advent of the 21th century, the responsibility for prevention and control of infectious diseases has gradually been marginalized in the CDC system. The COVID-19 pandemic has also provided a glimpse into the overburdened operational process and inadequate personnel reserve of the current system of CDCs. In addition, a long-term multisectoral joint mechanism has not been created for sharing information and cooperation to facilitate public health. Reform of the system of CDCs or public health is very necessary. A global prevention and control system should be envisioned and implemented worldwide, and vertical management should be implemented throughout all levels of CDCs to improve their structure and administrative status. The WHO should expand its scope of responsibilities, especially with regard to mechanisms for joint prevention and control of infectious diseases, to substantially implement the "One Health" concept. The International Health Regulations (IHR) and relevant laws and regulations should enshrine the CDC's authority in administration and policy-making to deal with outbreaks or pandemics of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world for three years. Most countries have adjusted policies and strategies in response to the burden of COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 seems to be diminishing as the case fatality rate has declined and the number of vaccinated people has increased markedly. Given the large population worldwide, we need to pay attention to the continuing COVID-19 burden. Globally, the number of cases remains at a certain level, and the number of cases is still increasing in China. We also need to deal with shortages of medical resources, antipyretics, and home nursing facilities. SARS-CoV-2 will coexist with humans for a long time, and predicting viral mutations and pandemic trends will be difficult. The reform of the whole public health system is imperative. A comprehensive surveillance system should be created to determine the proportion of various pathogens and to guard against mixed infections of respiratory infectious diseases. A comprehensive response mechanism, including preventive measures and medical treatments, should be created as soon as possible to monitor the status of the epidemic and to deal with the long-term health burden of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest public health crisis in a century. Since it was initially reported in 2019, the duration and intensity of its impacts are still in serious question around the world, and it is about to enter its third year. The first public health revolution failed to achieve its ultimate targets, as previously contained infectious diseases seem to have returned, and new infectious diseases continue to emerge. The prevention and control of infectious diseases is still a public health priority worldwide. After SARS, China adjusted a series of its infectious disease policies. In order to ensure the effectiveness and implementation of prevention and control interventions, the government should integrate the concept of public health. Perhaps we need a global public health system at the government level to fight the potential threat of infectious disease. This system could include multifaceted strategies, not just specific prevention and control interventions, and it could also be a comprehensive system to ensure unimpeded communication and cooperation as well as sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2003 until 2018, a total of 12 outbreaks with 1,654 confirmed dengue cases have been reported in Zhejiang Province. The emergence of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes will affect the control of dengue. Our study aims to investigate the current situation of insecticide resistance of Ae. albopictus in Zhejiang Province and compares it with the situation in 2016. Ae. albopictus were collected from 12 Zhejiang Province cities in 2019. Resistance to three major categories of insecticides, including 8 commonly used insecticides, was evaluated according to the tube test protocol recommended by China CDC. Ae. albopictus in all cities, except Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Lishui and Shaoxing, showed decreased susceptibility to beta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin and permethrin. For malathion, 3 cities Ae. albopictus have developed resistance, 3 cities Ae. albopictus have decreased susceptibility. For propoxur, in 3 cities Ae. albopictus showed decreased susceptibility with mortality ranging from 94.24% to 96.67%. The resistance to alpha-cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and fenitrothion is rare in Ae. albopictus in that only Zhoushan's mosquitoes showed decreased susceptibility to alphacypermethrin. The resistance to beta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin and permethrin was significantly correlated with each other. Compared to the situation in 2016, the insecticide resistance of Ae. albopictus in Zhejiang Province has become more common in 2019. In the emergency preparedness for future mosquito-borne diseases, two things should be done: 1) the selection of insecticides should be made based on information from insecticide resistance surveillance 2) the use of insecticide should follow scientific guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) has spread throughout Asia, including China, South Korea, and Japan. In China, the main victims of SFTS were farmers. Measures to protect farmers were urgently needed but limited, and health education and promotion was proposed as an option. A pilot community trial was conducted to provide health education about SFTS in 2013 in Daishan County, Zhejiang Province, China, and results indicated that health education had promise. An educational campaign was conducted for three years. The incidence of SFTS decreased 0.3 per 1,000 person-years, and rural residents' awareness of SFTS increased substantially. Numerous habits or work practices that increased the likelihood of tick bites have also been changed. In the future, education could emphasize adopting healthy habits or work practices to reduce tick bites and thus reduce the incidence of SFTS, like regularly weeding around a house surrounded by shrubs, not sitting or lying on the ground when resting, and protecting one's self when doing farm work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Typhoon Haiyan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been supporting the Government of the Philippines in coordinating the incoming relief supplies from more than 30 international humanitarian health organizations. During the 10 days in Abuyong, Philippines, the Chinese medical rescue team consisting of 50 experts specialized in clinical medicine and disease prevention and control action was taken including, medical treatment, environmental disinfection and health education. A total of 1,831 cases and 2,144 outpatients were treated, blood tests, B-ultrasound, electrocardiogram (ECG) and other laboratory examinations were carried out for more than 615 patients; a cumulative 90,000 square meters in external environment were disinfected, and more than 500 health education materials were handed out. Besides, measures of purifying drinking water, and rebuilding the local hospital have also been carried out. The international emergency response to the Haiyan typhoon in Philippines contributed to reconstruct the local disaster health system by the activities from international medical emergency rescue. To improve the capacity of international medical emergency rescue in disaster, the special project of foreign medical emergency rescue should be set in countries' medical emergency rescue, and disaster emergency medical rescue should be reserved as a conventional capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 indicated that China's existing former mechanism for emergency management was very vulnerable. The Chinese Government has since established a new mechanism for responding to emerging communicable diseases. This paper examined the current status of and developments in China's response to emerging communicable diseases from the outbreak of SARS in 2003 to the outbreak of H7N9 virus infection in 2013. Results indicated that the current mechanism for emergency responses to emerging communicable diseases in China has made great achievements in terms of command and decision-making, organization and collaboration, monitoring and early warning systems, protection, and international communication and cooperation. This mechanism for responding to emerging communicable diseases allowed China to successfully deal with outbreaks of the H5N1 bird flu, H1N1 flu, and H7N9 bird flu. However, a better coordination system, a more complete Office of Responses to Public Health Emergencies, administrative responsibility and error correction, better personnel training, and government responsibility may help to improve the response to emerging communicable diseases. Such improvements are eagerly anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]