Grading of public health emergencies

Public health emergencies are graded in the National Contingency Plan for Public Health Emergencies.

 

According to their nature, extent and range of impacts, public health emergencies are classified into four levels, namely extremely serious (Ⅰ), serious (Ⅱ), major (Ⅲ) and ordinary (Ⅳ).

 

The following events are classified as extremely serious public health emergencies:

 

(1) Pneumonic plague and pulmonary anthrax occur and spread in large and medium-sized cities or pneumonic plague and pulmonary anthrax epidemics break out in two or more provinces and there is a trend of further spreading.

 

(2) Cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and human infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza(HPAI) occur and there is a trend of further spreading.

 

(3) Diseases with unknown causes occur in multiple provinces with a trend of further spreading.

 

(4) Emerging infectious diseases or infectious diseases that haven’t been detected in China occur or are introduced, with a trend of further spreading; or infectious diseases that have been eliminated in China re-emerge.

 

(5) Loss of highly contagious bacteria, virus strains, and other pathogenic agents. 

 

(6) Severe infectious diseases epidemics have occurred in countries and areas neighboring China or navigable to China and cases have been imported to China which seriously endanger public health security. 

 

(7) Other serious public health emergencies identified by the National Health Commission under the State Council.