Public Health Preparedness for the World's Largest Mass Gathering: 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai, China

• Published in: Prehospital and disaster medicine Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 589 - 594
• Main Authors: Yi, He, Zheng'an, Yuan, Fan, Wu, Xiang, Guo, Chen, Dong, Yongchao, He, Xiaodong, Sun, Hao, Pan, Mahany, Mollie, Keim, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.12.2012; Jems Publishing Company, Inc
• Subjects: Anniversaries and Special Events; Capacity Building; Capacity development; China; Civil Defense - organization & administration; Crowding; Disaster management; Disaster Planning - organization & administration; Disasters; Emergency preparedness; Health Education; Health promotion; Health services; Health technology assessment; High temperature; Humans; International Cooperation; International organizations; Mass Behavior; Mass media; Population Surveillance; Public Health; Risk Assessment; Risk factors; Special events; Special Report; Typhoons; China; Shanghai China; disaster planning; disaster exercises; emergency response; disaster management; 2010 World Exposition; mass gatherings; health preparedness; public health
• ISSN: 1049-023X; 1945-1938
• DOI: 10.1017/S1049023X12001252

The 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai China (Expo) was the largest mass gathering in world history, attracting a record 72 million visitors. More than 190 countries participated in the Expo, along with more than 50 international organizations. The 2010 Expo was six months in duration (May 1 through October 30, 2010), and the size of the venue site comprised 5.28 square kilometers. Great challenges were imposed on the public health system in Shanghai due to the high number and density of visitors, long duration of the event, and other risk factors such as high temperatures, typhoon, etc. As the major metropolitan public health agency in Shanghai, the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (SCDC) implemented a series of actions in preparing for, and responding to, the potential health impact of the world's largest mass gathering to date, which included partnerships for capacity building, enhancement of internal organizational structure, risk assessment, strengthened surveillance, disaster planning and exercises, laboratory management, vaccination campaign, health education, health intervention, risk communication and mass media surveillance, and technical support for health inspection. The clear-cut organizational structures and job responsibilities, as well as comprehensive operational and scientific preparations, were key elements to ensure the success of the 2010 World Exposition. YiH, Zheng'anY, FanW, XiangG, ChenD, YongchaoH, XiaodongS, HaoP, MahanyM, KeimM. Public health preparedness for the world's largest mass gathering: 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai, China. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(6):1-6.