In a decisive move to bolster its public health defenses, China announced on Monday the release of updated lists of infectious diseases that will trigger border quarantine measures. This initiative comes from a collaboration between the National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention and the General Administration of Customs. The goal? To swiftly curb the potential spread of dangerous pathogens within its borders.

The newly established catalog of diseases requiring immediate border quarantine includes some of the world's most lethal infections, such as plague, cholera, yellow fever, and Ebola, along with seven other highly contagious illnesses. Local customs authorities are now empowered to implement on-site prevention tactics for individuals who are confirmed or suspected to have these diseases. Those requiring further medical evaluation will be transferred to designated hospitals for treatment or isolation.

Moreover, a separate list has been created for diseases that require close monitoring, which consists of 26 different illnesses. This list notably includes COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, measles, and mpox. Customs officials will actively encourage travelers exhibiting symptoms to seek out medical screening to ensure health risks are addressed proactively. This move comes at a time when global health security is more crucial than ever.

These new disease catalogs will go into effect on Wednesday, following an amendment passed in June modifying the Law on Frontier Health and Quarantine. This legislation mandates clearly defined lists for tracking infections among international travelers, facilitating quicker medical responses, and enforcing strict control measures.

Officials from the National Administration of Disease Control emphasized the critical importance of early surveillance for contagious diseases at points of entry. They stressed that these measures are essential to detect and halt cross-border transmission of epidemics.

Significantly, the approach aims to strike a balance between rigorous disease prevention and the streamlined movement of goods and people at customs points. While measures like thermal scanning and medical patrols will be widely implemented, in-depth investigations will only be conducted on travelers displaying abnormal symptoms, thus keeping the travel process efficient for the majority.

The administration is also making headway in upgrading quarantine processes, incorporating innovative smart quarantine technology to enhance operational efficiency. They are committed to improving collaboration among customs, health authorities, and disease control units to share information effectively about infections at borders.

Travelers venturing across borders are strongly advised to report any suspicious health symptoms—including fever, coughing, or breathing difficulties—to customs officials. With global travel on the rise, these proactive measures demonstrate China's commitment to safeguarding public health and preventing any potential outbreak.

Stay tuned as we monitor further developments in this vital public health initiative and its implications for international travel!