SCO Experts Trace the Legacy of an Anti-Plague Pioneer and Chart a New Course for Public Health Cooperation

To advance technical collaboration and people-to-people exchange in the field of plague prevention and control among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries, and to promote cross-border international cooperation, the “Seminar on Plague Prevention and Control in SCO Countries” was held in Beijing from August 5 to 6, 2025. The event was hosted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), co-organized by the National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention of China CDC and the Wu Lien-Teh Public Welfare Foundation, and supported by the National Key Laboratory of Pathogen Traceability, Early Warning and Intelligent Decision-Making for Infectious Diseases.

Wang Jianwei, Director of the China CDC, attended the seminar and delivered remarks. He noted that the China CDC has consistently prioritized and supported the joint prevention and control of infectious diseases globally. The center is committed to promoting international health cooperation, strengthening public health workforce development in developing countries, and advancing collective responses to communicable diseases. He expressed the hope that, under the SCO framework, member states would work together to enhance joint prevention and control efforts for plague and other infectious diseases, contributing to the health and well-being of all people.

The seminar brought together more than 50 experts and scholars, including representatives from SCO member and observer states, such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia, as well as 20 international experts from countries including Norway, France, and Georgia, and from the World Health Organization. Participants engaged in discussions on plague surveillance and epidemiological trends, shared national experiences and research outcomes in plague prevention and control, and explored the risks and challenges of plague outbreaks and cross-border transmission.

The international experts also visited the Former Residence of Dr. Wu Lien-Teh, a pioneer of China’s public health efforts, to gain an in-depth understanding of his life and anti-epidemic philosophy. Known as the “plague fighter,” Dr. Wu was the first to apply modern medicine and public health practices in combating a major outbreak of pneumonic plague in Northeast China 115 years ago. Within just four months, he successfully brought the epidemic under control. The visit also offered a comprehensive view of his outstanding contributions to medical education, disease prevention, and the promotion of international cooperation in public health.

Following the seminar, experts from SCO countries traveled to Yining City to participate in the Xinjiang–Central Asia Technical Exchange on the Prevention and Control of Key Infectious Diseases, and visited local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to engage in on-site exchanges.

The year 2025 marks the “Year of Sustainable Development” under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The successful hosting of this scientific seminar and cultural exchange will further advance technical cooperation and the establishment of joint prevention and control mechanisms among SCO countries for plague and other natural focal infectious diseases.