The Law on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases was promulgated in 1989 and amended in 2004 and 2013 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on June 29, 2013.

There are 80 articles in total.

The key points are as follows:

1.The infectious diseases are divided into Classes A, B and C.

Infectious diseases under Class A are plague and cholera.

Infectious diseases under Class B are infectious SARS, AIDS, viral hepatitis, poliomyelitis, highly pathogenic avian influenza, measles, epidemic hemorrhagic fever, rabies, epidemic encephalitis B, dengue fever, anthrax, bacillary and amebic dysentery, pulmonary tuberculosis, typhoid and paratyphoid, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus infantum, scarlet fever, brucellosis, gonorrhoea, syphilis, leptospirosis, schistosomiasis and malaria.

Infectious diseases under Class C are influenza, epidemic parotitis, rubella, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, leprosy, epidemic and endemic typhus, kala-azar, echinococcosis, filariasis, and infectious diarrhea other than cholera, bacillary and amebic dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid.

With respect to the infectious SARS, pulmonary anthrax in anthrax and highly pathogenic avian influenza that infects human beings, included in the infectious diseases under Class B, the measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases under Class B, the measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases under Class A.

With respect to the other infectious diseases under Class B and the infectious diseases the causes for the outbreak of which are uncertain and for which the measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases under Class A, need to be taken, the health administration department under the State Council shall, without delay, report the matter to the State Council for approval before making an announcement and take the measures.

2.Diseases prevention and control institutions shall do the work of monitoring and forecasting infectious diseases, and of making epidemiological investigation and reporting on epidemic situation as well as the work of preventing and controlling other diseases.

Medical agencies shall do the work of preventing and treating infectious diseases that is related to medical treatment and the work of preventing infectious diseases within their own responsibility areas.

3.The State establishes an early warning system for infectious diseases. The health administration department under the State Council and the provincial governments shall, on the basis of the forecast of the outbreak and epidemic trend of infectious diseases, issue early warning of infectious diseases in a timely manner, and make an announcement, depending on the circumstances.

4.The health administration department under the State Council shall regularly announce information on the national epidemic situation of infectious diseases. Health administration departments under the provincial governments shall regularly announce information on the epidemic situation of infectious diseases in their own administrative areas.

5.When an infectious disease breaks out and prevails, the local people’s government shall make the measures known to the public:

(1) restricting mass gathering;

(2) suspension of work, business and school classes;

(3) closing the particular places;

(4) controlling or wiping out animals.

6.The provincial governments may decide to blockade an epidemic area of an infectious disease under Class A in their own administrative areas.