Global Disease Detection Program: China

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) has collaborated with public health institutions in China since the 1980s to address public health priorities that affect China, the United States, and the global community. U.S. CDC’s principal partners in China are the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO China).

China U.S. Collaborative Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases

In 2005, the China MOH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the China U.S. Collaborative Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), which includes activities of the U.S. CDC, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. U.S. CDC’s component of the EID collaboration is largely funded by the U.S. CDC Global Disease Detection Program (GDD).

GDD is U.S. CDC’s principal program for identifying and containing emerging infectious diseases around the world, and has been designated by WHO as a Collaborating Center for Implementation of the International Health Regulations -- National Surveillance and Response Capacity. A central focus of GDD is the establishment and expansion of GDD Regional Centers in each WHO region.

Responding Jointly to Health Threats

In 2006, a China Center was established with collaborative projects extending across the country, building strong bilateral relationships between both countries through scientific exchange. U.S. CDC’s Global Disease Detection Program, which focuses on outbreak response, pathogen discovery, surveillance, training, and networking, provides the core support for U.S. CDC’s participation in this collaboration with China.

Connecting Resources to Build Capacity

Guided by joint priorities, the U.S. and China build capacity to detect and respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases by connecting complementary programs and resources. This comprehensive approach helps China identify and contain infectious disease outbreaks before they spread globally. Programs include:

• Emerging Infections U.S. CDC and China CDC experts strengthen public health surveillance to prevent transmission of infections and improve laboratory detection of infectious diseases, such as acute respiratory infections, foodborne infections and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
• Epidemiology Capacity Building The Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program (CFETP), a two-year field program, strengthens disease surveillance, applied epidemiology, and response capacities through a rigorous curriculum designed to train China’s future public health leaders.
• Influenza For more than 20 years, U.S. CDC has supported the Chinese national influenza laboratory, including a recently awarded WHO influenza reference laboratory. Today, partners combine expertise to prevent, identify, and control influenza through joint preparedness, surveillance, and rapid response activities.
• Laboratory Quality and Biosafety U.S. CDC expertise in China improves performance of infectious diseases laboratories, strengthens worker safety, and reduces the risk of accidentally releasing harmful substances.
• Health Communication U.S. CDC helps China mitigate public health threats and address public health priorities through the use of science-based communication strategies, risk communication principles, and new media channels.