Early Transmission Dynamics in Wuhan, China, of Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia.

Background: The initial cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected pneumonia (NCIP) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019 and January 2020. We analyzed data on the first 425 confirmed cases in Wuhan to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of NCIP.

Methods: We collected information on demographic characteristics, exposure history, and illness timelines of laboratory-confirmed cases of NCIP that had been reported by January 22, 2020.

Epidemiology of Imported Infectious Diseases, China, 2005-2016.

Imported infectious diseases are becoming a serious public health threat in China. However, limited information concerning the epidemiologic characteristics of imported infectious diseases is available. In this study, we collected data related to imported infectious diseases in mainland China from the National Information Reporting System of Infectious Diseases and analyzed demographic, temporal, and spatial distributions.

Comparison of the first three waves of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus circulation in the mainland of the People's Republic of China.

Background: H7N9 human cases were first detected in mainland China in March 2013. Circulation of this virus has continued each year shifting to typical winter months. We compared the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics for the first three waves of virus circulation.

A practical community-based response strategy to interrupt Ebola transmission in sierra Leone, 2014-2015.

Background: The Ebola virus disease spread rapidly in West Africa in 2014, leading to the loss of thousands of lives. Community engagement was one of the key strategies to interrupt Ebola transmission, and practical community level measures needed to be explored in the field and tailored to the specific context of communities.

Methods: First, community-level education on Ebola virus disease (EVD) prevention was launched for the community's social mobilizers in six districts in Sierra Leone beginning in November 2014.

Rapid assessment of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception related to the prevention and control of Ebola virus disease in three communities of Sierra Leone.

Background: The recent outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone has been characterized by the World Health Organization as one of the most challenging EVD outbreaks to date. The first confirmed case in Sierra Leone was a young woman who was admitted to a government hospital in Kenema following a miscarriage on 24 May 2014. On 5 January 2015, intensified training for an EVD response project was initiated at the medical university of Sierra Leone in Jui.

[Information obtained through Internet-based media surveillance regarding domestic public health emergencies in 2013].

Objective: To analyze the information obtained through Internet-based media surveillance in 2013 on domestic public health emergencies and to compare with the related data reported through Chinese Public Health Emergency Management Information System (PHEMIS), and to study the role of Internet-based Media Surveillance Program (IBMSP) in the detection of public health emergencies.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was conducted based on the database of the information on domestic public health emergencies. Information was obtained through the Internet-based media surveillance in 2013.

[Development of an index system for the comprehensive evaluation on public health emergency events surveillance system in China].

Objective: To establish a comprehensive evaluation index system for the China Public Health Emergency Events Surveillance System (CPHEESS).

Methods: A draft index system was built through literature review and under the consideration of the characteristics on CPHEESS. Delphi method was adapted to determine the final index system.

[Epidemiological characteristics of human avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection in China].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) in China and to provide scientific evidence for the adjustment of preventive strategy and control measures.

Methods: Demographic and epidemiologic information on human cases were collected from both reported data of field epidemiological investigation and the reporting system for infectious diseases.

Results: A total of 433 cases including 163 deaths were reported in mainland China before June 4, 2014.

Use of national pneumonia surveillance to describe influenza A(H7N9) virus epidemiology, China, 2004-2013.

In mainland China, most avian influenza A(H7N9) cases in the spring of 2013 were reported through the pneumonia of unknown etiology (PUE) surveillance system. To understand the role of possible underreporting and surveillance bias in assessing the epidemiology of subtype H7N9 cases and the effect of live-poultry market closures, we examined all PUE cases reported from 2004 through May 3, 2013. Historically, the PUE system was underused, reporting was inconsistent, and PUE reporting was biased toward A(H7N9)-affected provinces, with sparse data from unaffected provinces; however, we found no evidence that the older ages of persons with A(H7N9) resulted from surveillance bias.

Comparative epidemiology of human infections with avian influenza A H7N9 and H5N1 viruses in China: a population-based study of laboratory-confirmed cases.

Background: The novel influenza A H7N9 virus emerged recently in mainland China, whereas the influenza A H5N1 virus has infected people in China since 2003. Both infections are thought to be mainly zoonotic. We aimed to compare the epidemiological characteristics of the complete series of laboratory-confirmed cases of both viruses in mainland China so far.

Epidemiology of human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China.

Background: The first identified cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in humans occurred in China during February and March 2013. We analyzed data obtained from field investigations to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of H7N9 cases in China identified as of December 1, 2013.

Methods: Field investigations were conducted for each confirmed case of H7N9 virus infection.

[Estimation of sampling error on data from cluster sample survey].

To clarify the necessity of applying appropriate statistical methods to calculate sampling error from data of cluster sample survey, we take a two-stage cluster sample survey developed from a population aged 15 and over as example. We use statistical methods based on the assumption of simple random samples and methods considering complex sample design to analyze our data, respectively. Through comparison, we hope to show the potential effects of using improper statistical methods to estimate sampling error on parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.