China CDC: The risk of vector-borne infectious disease outbreaks has increased, and respiratory infectious diseases overall are at a low prevalence level.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention held a press conference today on the theme of “Prevent heat hazards and diseases scientifically for a safe and healthy summer.” It introduced information related to the prevention and control of key infectious diseases in summer, heatstroke prevention, epidemic prevention after disasters, and the prevention of injuries among children during the summer holiday. The spokesperson of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi Jingjing, briefed the public on the recent analysis of the epidemic situation of key infectious diseases in China and issued health risk alerts.

After entering the summer season, mosquito-borne and other vector-borne pathogens become more active, and population movement increases, raising the risk of outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. The risk of local transmission also increases due to imported cases from abroad. In some provinces in southern China, there is a risk of clustered outbreaks of dengue fever and chikungunya.

Overall, respiratory infectious diseases across the country are at a low level of circulation. Viruses such as rhinovirus and parainfluenza virus show some level of activity, and the COVID-19 virus is circulating at a low level. In addition, the country has entered the “seven down and eight up” flood season, during which flooding disasters occur in many places. This may lead to environmental sanitation problems, affect the hygiene and safety of food and drinking water, cause changes in the activity of vectors and host animals, and increase the risk of infectious diseases such as gastrointestinal, respiratory, and vector-borne illnesses in disaster-affected areas. (CCTV News)