Early Warning Interventions for Environmental Risk Factors at China CDC.

Abstract

President Xi Jinping emphasized the paramount importance of bolstering early surveillance and early warning capacities within a robust public health system (1). These elements constitute one of the five major functionalities of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention (2). As an integral division of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responsible for executing early surveillance and warning procedures in the realm of public health. Nonetheless, a deficiency persists concerning the early warning of public health risk factors. In 2019, the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention initiated nationwide pilots for environmental health risk assessment. Building upon these pilot studies, the National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEH) of China CDC embarked on research and development for early warning technology in environmental health risk. Utilizing factors such as air quality, heatwave, and cold-spell health risks as key areas of intervention, the NIEH undertook extensive research and development of suitable adaptive technologies. This was done through a systematic coordination of resources among all stakeholders, and exploration of effective mechanisms for health risk early warning interventions in public health. The NIEH has successfully integrated public health considerations into early warning systems for environmental risk factors, developing intricate, health risk-based warning and intervention technologies. These encompass air quality, heatwaves, and cold spellrelated health risk warnings. Building on this achievement, the NIEH has fervently promoted the early warning intervention through a pilot program on three fundamental aspects: technology research and development, platform construction, and mechanism development. Table 1 outlines the pilot program for health risk early warning initiatives related to air quality, heatwaves, and cold spells. In recognizing the significance of integrating early warning technology into health services, the NIEH facilitated early risk intervention strategies. This resulted in the pioneering fusion of medical and disease prevention sectors, giving birth to an innovative model for preventative disease control through early health warnings. Moreover, these developments offer a distinctively Chinese solution to global practices of early warning intervention.