Liu Qiao, Liu Min, Liang Wannian, Li Xuanjun, Jing Wenzhan, Chen Zhongdan, Liu Jue
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, Peking University, Beijing, China.
J Glob Health. 2025 May 16;15:04151. doi: 10.7189/jogh.15.04151.
Over 30 priority pathogens with pandemic potential were identified, underscoring the need for targeted surveillance and prevention. As infectious disease outbreaks increase globally, particularly from zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens, understanding their distribution is crucial for effective public health responses. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of global infectious disease outbreaks from 1996-2023, addressing gaps in previous research.
We sourced data from the World Health Organization emergency events webpage, focusing on key details like disease name, location, date, and fatalities. We calculated case fatality rates (CFR) to assess outbreak severity. We categorised outbreaks into six types - respiratory, vector-borne, foodborne/waterborne, direct contact infections, non-infectious conditions, and others. Data extraction was independently performed and cross-verified for accuracy.
Between 1996-2023, a total of 3013 global outbreak events were reported. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had the highest frequency of outbreaks, with 272 events, followed by China with 254, and Saudi Arabia with 202. Influenza was the most frequently reported disease, with 771 outbreaks, followed by Ebola (n = 342) and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (n = 305). Significant outbreaks included the 2023 global dengue outbreak, which accounted for five million cases and 5000 deaths. The CFR was highest for the Marburg virus at 76.86%, followed by haemorrhagic fever at 63.63%, and Ebola at 63.00%. The data underscore the varying severity and distribution of outbreaks, highlighting the critical need for robust global health surveillance and targeted interventions.
In this study, we highlighted the significant impact of influenza, Ebola, and MERS-CoV. The high case fatality rates of viruses like Marburg and Ebola emphasised the need for early detection and rapid response systems. Strengthening global cooperation, investing in health care infrastructure, and integrating digital surveillance technologies are crucial to enhancing preparedness and reducing future outbreak impacts.
已确定30多种具有大流行潜力的重点病原体，这凸显了进行有针对性监测和预防的必要性。随着全球传染病暴发的增加，尤其是人畜共患病原体和媒介传播病原体引发的暴发，了解它们的分布情况对于有效的公共卫生应对至关重要。我们旨在对1996年至2023年全球传染病暴发情况进行全面分析，以填补以往研究的空白。
我们从世界卫生组织紧急事件网页获取数据，重点关注疾病名称、地点、日期和死亡人数等关键细节。我们计算了病死率（CFR）以评估疫情的严重程度。我们将疫情分为六种类型——呼吸道疾病、媒介传播疾病、食源性/水源性疾病、直接接触感染、非传染性疾病及其他。数据提取工作由独立人员完成，并进行交叉核对以确保准确性。
1996年至2023年期间，共报告了3013起全球疫情事件。刚果民主共和国的疫情暴发频率最高，达272起，其次是中国，有254起，沙特阿拉伯有202起。流感是报告最频繁的疾病，有771起疫情，其次是埃博拉（342起）和中东呼吸综合征相关冠状病毒（MERS-CoV）（305起）。重大疫情包括2023年全球登革热疫情，该疫情导致500万例病例和5000人死亡。马尔堡病毒的病死率最高，为76.86%，其次是出血热，为63.63%，埃博拉为63.00%。这些数据凸显了疫情严重程度和分布的差异，强调了建立强大的全球卫生监测和有针对性干预措施的迫切需求。
在本研究中，我们强调了流感、埃博拉和MERS-CoV的重大影响。马尔堡病毒和埃博拉病毒等高病死率强调了早期检测和快速反应系统的必要性。加强全球合作、投资医疗基础设施以及整合数字监测技术对于提高防范能力和减少未来疫情影响至关重要。
