Disease control agency urges travel vigilance

China is facing a relatively high risk of vector-borne infectious diseases and natural focal diseases, driven by factors such as increased population mobility, frequent rainfall, heightened activity of disease vectors and the expanding ranges of host animals, a disease control official said Tuesday.

Vector-borne infectious diseases — such as dengue fever, malaria and chikungunya — are transmitted by mosquitoes and other vectors. Natural focal diseases are caused by pathogens circulating among wild animal hosts and can spread to humans, such as plague and brucellosis.

Xiong Huang, spokesman for the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, said at a news conference that the risk of clustered intestinal infections — including hand, foot and mouth disease and norovirus — is also on the rise.

Meanwhile, other acute respiratory illnesses such as influenza remain at low levels.

With the upcoming eight-day National Day holiday beginning Oct 1, Xiong advised the public to stay informed about the epidemic situation at their travel destinations and take necessary precautions.

During travel, it is important to ensure food and water safety, avoid consuming raw or undercooked seafood, refrain from contact with or consumption of dead poultry and wild animals, and take measures to prevent mosquito bites, he said.