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Background A novel influenza A virus infection was identified on March 31, 2013 in China and a total of 134 cases were identified in 12 provinces of China between March 25 and September 31, 2013. Of these, 46 cases occurred in Zhejiang Province and the number of patients is the largest in China. Methods Field investigations were conducted for each confirmed H7N9 case. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information about demographics, exposure history, clinical signs and symptoms, timelines of medical visits and care after onset of illness, and close contacts. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Samples from the patients were collected and tested by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and viral culture. Results A total of 46 laboratory confirmed cases of H7N9 influenza infection were identified in the Zhejiang province between March 31 and September 31, 2013 of which 29 were male and 17 were female. The median age of patients was 61.5 years and 76.09% of cases occurred in persons aged ⩾50 years old. Unlike other province, 34.78% of cases in Zhejiang Province were rural residents. Among 11 deaths, 9 were male, 10 were older than 60 years old, and 10 had underlying diseases. 30 of 38 cases with available data had a recent history of poultry exposures and 8 cases had multi-exposure history. The estimated median incubation period was two days which was shorter than corresponding data in other provinces. All cases were hospitalized and the median time from illness onset to hospitalization was 5 days. Symptoms at the onset of the illness included fever, cough, expectoration, shivering, fatigue, muscular aches, nausea, vomiting. Only 4.91% contacts developed respiratory symptoms, but their samples were tested negative for H7N9 virus designating lack of human-to-human transmission of the virus. Conclusions All cases were sporadic and there was no evidence of an epidemiologic link between them. Control measures including closing affected poultry and slaughtering backyard poultry are needed not only in urban areas but also in rural areas to reduce human H7N9 infection risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about the study "Human Rabies Cluster Following Badger Bites, People's Republic of China," by Gong Zhenyu, Wang Zhen, Chen Enfu, among others in the December 2007 issue.

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]

A letter to the editor about injuries caused by the typhoon Rananim in the east coast of China is presented.

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]

Objectives To summarize the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Zhejiang Province, China. Methods A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic features, exposure history, clinical symptoms, and timelines of medical visits. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the characteristics of SFTS. Results A total of 65 cases of SFTS were identified in Zhejiang Province from 2011 to 2013, of whom 34 were male and 31 were female. The median age was 66 years and 60 cases occurred in persons aged ≥50 years. The majority (91%) of SFTS cases occurred between May and August. With regard to exposure history, patients had pursued outdoor activities (63%), had a history of exposure to a tick (68%) or tick bite (29%), bred domestic animals (31%), or had a history of exposure to a mouse (57%), and some patients had a multi-exposure history. Approximately 98.46% of patients were hospitalized, and symptoms of the illness included fever (98%), fatigue (71%), chills (51%), etc. Two family clusters occurred, although there was no person-to-person transmission. Conclusions In Zhejiang Province, SFTS is prevalent between May and August among elderly persons who live in hilly areas, and clinical features are not specific. More emphasis should be given to this disease and further training of medical personnel should be carried out to prevent misdiagnosis. [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]