Increased Incidence of Scarlet Fever - China, 1999-2018.

What is already known about this topic? Scarlet fever had high incidence between the 1950s and 1980s, but during the 1980s and 1990s, the incidence of scarlet fever dropped to a relatively low and stable levels in China. What is added by this report? Starting in 2011, scarlet fever incidence significantly increased in China. In the eight years between 2011 and 2018, 479,555 cases were reported, which exceeded the total number of 241,365 cases reported in the previous twelve years 1999-2010. What are the implications for public health practice? Both patient and pathogen epidemiological surveillance need to be heightened to monitor serious cases of scarlet fever and to implement timely control measures.