Disease prevention and control institutions of cities divided into districts and of counties shall take charge of the implementation of the programs and schemes for preventing and controlling infectious diseases, coordinating efforts in immunization and disinfection as well as the control of hazards of vector organisms, disseminating the knowledge about prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, monitoring and reporting the epidemic situation and the outbreak of public sanitation emergencies in their own areas, and conducting epidemiological investigation and testing of common pathogenic microorganisms.

Article 19 The State establishes an early warning system for infectious diseases.

The health administration department under the State Council and the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government 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.

Article 20 Local people's governments at or above the county level shall make preliminary plans for prevention and control of infectious diseases and report to the people's governments at the next higher level for the record.

A preliminary plan for prevention and control of infectious diseases shall include the following main points:

(1) composition of the headquarters for prevention and control of infectious diseases, and the duties of relevant departments;

(2) systems of monitoring, collecting of information about, analyzing, reporting and circulating of a notice of infectious diseases;

(3) tasks and duties of disease prevention and control institutions and medical agencies in case of the occurrence of the epidemic situation of infectious diseases;

(4) classification of the outbreak and prevalence of infectious diseases and the necessary emergency work plan; and

(5) prevention of infectious diseases and on-the-spot control over epidemic-stricken places or areas, emergency facilities, equipment, medicines for medical treatment, medical apparatus and instruments as well as the storage and transfer of other materials and technologies.

After receiving early warning of infectious diseases issued by the health administration department under the State Council or the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government, local people's governments and disease prevention and control institutions shall, in accordance with their preliminary plans for prevention and control of infectious diseases, take necessary preventive and control measures.

Article 21 Medical agencies shall strictly adhere to the control system and operation procedures laid down by the health administration department under the State Council to prevent iatrogenic and hospital infection of infectious diseases.

Medical agencies shall assign special departments or persons the task of reporting the epidemic situation of infectious diseases, preventing and controlling infectious diseases with their own units, and preventing infectious diseases within their responsibility districts, and the tasks of monitoring dangerous factors related to hospital infection in medical activities and of safe protection, disinfection, isolation, and disposal of medical wastes.

Disease prevention and control institutions shall designate special persons to take charge of directing and appraising the work of prevention of infectious diseases within medical agencies and to conduct epidemiological investigation.

Article 22 Laboratories of disease prevention and control institutions and medical agencies and units engaged in experimentation of pathogenic microorganisms shall measure up to the requirements and technical standards specified by the State, establish strict supervision and control systems and exercise strict supervision and control over the samples of the pathogens of infectious diseases in accordance with the specified measures, in order to strictly prevent laboratory infection of the pathogens of infectious diseases and the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.

Article 23 Blood collectors and suppliers and manufacturers of biological products shall strictly abide by the relevant regulations of the State to guarantee the quality of blood and blood products. Illegal collection of blood and getting other persons to sell their blood are prohibited.

When using blood or blood products, disease prevention and control institutions and medical agencies shall observe the relevant regulations of the State, in order to prevent the transmission of diseases via blood transfusion or the use of blood products.

Article 24 People's governments at all levels shall improve their work in preventing and treating the AIDS and take preventive and control measures to guard against the spread of the AIDS. The specific measures in this regard shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 25 The administrative departments for agriculture and forestry and other relevant departments under the people's governments at or above the county level shall, in compliance with their respective duties, take charge of the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases of animals related to infectious diseases common to human beings and animals.

Wild animals, domestic animals and fowls related to infectious diseases common to human beings and animals shall be sold or transported only after they have passed quarantine.

Article 26 The State establishes the storage of bacterial and virus strains of infectious diseases.

The collection, preservation, carrying, transportation and use of bacterial and virus strains of infectious diseases and the samples of infectious diseases for testing shall be controlled in a classified manner, and a sound and rigorous control system shall be established.

Where it is really necessary to collect, preserve, carry, transport or use bacterial and virus strains of infectious diseases and the samples of infectious diseases for testing that may cause the spread of the infectious diseases under Class A or that are specified by the health administration department under the State Council, the matter shall be subject to approval by the health administration department under the people's government at or above the provincial level. The specific measures in this regard shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 27 With respect to the sewage, wastes, places and objects contaminated with the pathogens of infectious diseases, the units or individuals concerned shall carry out strict disinfection under the direction of the disease prevention and control institutions or in accordance with the sanitary requirements put forth by them; and in case of refusal to undergo disinfection, local health administration departments or disease prevention and control institutions shall carry out compulsory disinfection.

Article 28 Where plans are made for the construction of such large projects as water conservancy, communications, tourism and energy projects in an area of a natural focus of infection confirmed by the State, sanitary investigation of the construction environment shall, in advance, be conducted by the disease prevention and control institution at or above the provincial level. The construction unit shall, in accordance with the proposals of the disease prevention and control institution, take necessary measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases. During the period of construction, the construction unit shall assign special persons to take charge of sanitation and anti-epidemic work at the construction site. After completion of the construction project, the disease prevention and control institution shall monitor the possible occurrence of infectious diseases.

Article 29 Disinfectant products used for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, drinking water provided by drinking water suppliers and products related to sanitary safety of drinking water shall measure up to the sanitary standards and specifications of the State.

Any drinking water supplier engaged in production or supply activities shall obtain a sanitary license according to law.

Manufacturers of disinfectant products to be used for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and disinfectant products to be manufactured for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases shall be subject to examination and approval by the health administration department under the people's governments at or above the provincial level. The specific measures in this regard shall be formulated by the State Council.

Chapter III Reporting on, Releasing Information on and Announcing the Epidemic Situation

Article 30 When disease prevention and control institutions, medical agencies, blood collectors and supplies or their staff members on duty find the epidemic situation of infectious diseases specified in this Law or the outbreak and prevalence of other infectious diseases or the infectious diseases the causes for the sudden outbreak of which are uncertain, they shall report in adherence to the principle of territorial control in respect of report on epidemic situation and in accordance with the contents, procedure, form and time limit prescribed by the State Council or by the health administration department under the State Council.