China aims to establish a modernized disease control system by 2030, with a focus on enhancing its capability to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, according to a national plan for disease control during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30).
The blueprint, approved by the State Council and published on Monday by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration together with six other departments, seeks to develop an efficient and agile surveillance and early warning network while upgrading risk assessment, targeted prevention, emergency response, treatment capacity, material stockpiles, public health research and talent development.
By 2030, the country aims to be better positioned to tackle emerging and acute epidemics, capable of containing major infectious disease risks and reducing the health impact of key diseases.
The plan comes as China continues to operate the world's largest disease control system, while maintaining generally stable epidemic conditions nationwide. However, the administration warned that the public health landscape is expected to evolve rapidly over the next five years and herald significant challenges.
To achieve its goals, the plan outlines a series of measures to strengthen the prevention and control of major infectious diseases, including respiratory infections, vector-borne diseases, blood-borne and sexually transmitted infections, and zoonotic diseases.
For infectious respiratory diseases, the plan advocates establishing a surveillance network covering more than 15 types of pathogens. It also emphasizes stronger health management at key venues such as schools, nurseries and elderly care homes, enhanced health risk advisories, improved response measures for infection clusters and optimized deployment of medical resources during peak infection periods.
Priority will be given to curbing the spread of COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus infection, chickenpox and whooping cough, while guarding against epidemic risks posed by novel and acute respiratory illnesses.
To rein in vector-borne diseases, the plan calls for comprehensive routine prevention and control efforts in major port cities, provinces with large labor-exporting populations and international trade hubs. It also calls for intensified efforts to reduce the risk of imported dengue fever, chikungunya fever and malaria.
The upgrade of vaccines included in the national immunization program, promoting vaccination services at major hospitals and advancing the research and application of multivalent and other novel vaccines have also been proposed.
In addition, the plan seeks to establish a full-chain, closed-loop management system for the prevention and control of imported infectious diseases.
The blueprint calls for enhanced health education targeting cross-border institutions, organizations and travelers, stronger support for border provinces in cooperating with neighboring countries and regions on disease control, and improved systems for risk assessment, pre-entry disease prevention, port quarantine and post-arrival traceability of inbound travelers.
