China’s National Health Commission has announced the reclassification of two viral diseases—chikungunya fever and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS)—as Category B infectious diseases effective April 1. This strategic move enhances national monitoring protocols and mandates standardized reporting mechanisms across healthcare institutions.
The designation places both diseases under China’s rigorous infectious disease management framework, which requires coordinated prevention measures and immediate case reporting to public health authorities. While not subject to the extreme containment protocols of Category A diseases like plague and cholera, Category B status places chikungunya and SFTS alongside COVID-19, AIDS, and viral hepatitis in surveillance priority.
Chikungunya fever, transmitted primarily through Aedes mosquito bites, causes high fever, severe joint pain, and skin rashes. Since its initial importation to China in 2008, the country has experienced periodic outbreaks, with several provinces reporting localized transmission clusters in 2025 linked to international travel.
SFTS presents different epidemiological challenges as a tick-borne illness prevalent in rural mountainous regions. Characterized by fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia, the disease first emerged in China in 2009 and remains endemic in areas with established tick populations.
Health authorities express particular concern about chikungunya’s transmission potential. Liu Qing, deputy director of infectious disease control at the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, warned that 2026 brings elevated risks for local outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases due to increased international travel and expanding mosquito habitats driven by climate change.
The reclassification enables enhanced surveillance capabilities through China’s national infectious disease intelligent monitoring system, which employs advanced algorithms to detect potential outbreaks. Additional measures include public education campaigns, intensified environmental sanitation programs targeting mosquito breeding grounds, and improved diagnostic protocols.
For SFTS prevention, health experts recommend protective clothing and insect repellent in endemic areas. Liu Qiyong, chief vector-borne disease expert at China CDC, emphasized proper tick removal techniques and urged immediate medical attention for any post-bite fever symptoms.