Subscribe for E-mail Alerts
CCDC Weekly RSS Feed
Instructions for Authors
(Updated November 30, 2023)
Contents
G. Recollections and Reflections
I. Announcements and Notices to Readers
J. Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reports
III. Formatting Requirements and Author Submission Checklist
V. Submission, Acceptance, and Scheduling
VI. Guidance for Correcting Errors
I. Criteria for Publication
A. Compliance to Standards. The editorialization and publication of the China CDC Weekly (Weekly) is subject to relevant laws, regulations, and policy requirements for the editing and publishing of Chinese scientific journals. It also must follow guidance from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.
B. Appropriateness. The Weekly is intended for readers in the public health community, including public health professionals and administrators, clinicians, researchers, teachers, students, and the news media. It focuses on publishing surveillance data analysis, results of large scale surveys, and research reports to contribute to public health policies and practical implications.
C. Originality. In principle, reports should not contain previously published information, guidelines, or recommendations. However, reports can be published in conjunction with other academic journals under written agreements.
D. Quality. Surveillance data analysis, surveys, and research reports published by the Weekly should be based on accepted scientific methods, should include sufficient data to interpret the public health implications, and should give recommendations for further public health practice.
E. Timeliness. Reports should contain the most current data from surveys, surveillance systems, or studies. Reports on in progress or recently completed investigations have higher priority for publication. In principle, data from outbreaks should be reported within ten months, and data from surveillance systems and other sources should be reported within five years.
F. Clarity. Reports should adhere to principles of plain language with minimal use of acronyms, initialisms, and other jargon. Any required use of these terms should be fully and clearly written out or explained the first time they appear in the text. All reports have a limit on the number of words, figures, tables, and references.
II. Types of Reports
The following types of reports are published in Weekly Reports:
C) Policy Notes
G) Recollections and Reflections
I) Announcements and Notices to Readers
J) Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reports
A. Preplanned Studies
Preplanned studies are reports on a national or regional survey or a special study on important public health issues. The recommendations in the report should be able to guide future public health practice. In principle, preplanned studies should be no longer than 1,400 words and include no more than 10 references and 3 total tables, figures, and/or boxes. In Preplanned Studies, only the Discussion section has a heading; other sections do not have headings.
(TIPS: The most prominent feature of Weekly reports is simplicity. These reports are intended only to summarize the analysis and recommendations and not to provide every detail. The 10-reference rule is intended to limit the scope of the report.)
1. Summary box
In 1 or 2 sentences for each, contributors should answer the following:
What is already known about this topic?
What is added by this report?
What are the implications for public health practice?
These answers contain the key public health message, as well as the justification for the publication. Total word count should be between 75‒100 words. Answers longer than 100 words will be edited to meet the word limit.
2. Introductory Paragraph
The first paragraph of a preplanned study report is comparable to the abstract in a typical medical journal and is limited to 150–200 words. The introductory paragraph should contain the following components:
1) Background (why conduct the research or survey? What public health issues are targeted?).
2) Method of analysis (when, where, who did what, using what data, and why?).
3) Key findings (summarize one or two main results and any actions that resulted).
4) Public health message (what should be done by public health practitioners or, if relevant, by clinicians or the public?).
Additional background (as needed).
If all essential background information will not fit in the introductory paragraph, that background should be placed in a second introductory paragraph, before the Methods.
3. Methods
For most reports, the second section should be a concise summary (1 or 2 paragraphs) of the methods used to conduct the analysis. Important components of this section might include the sources of data, a statement of how the data were collected, case definitions or participant selection criteria, the period of study, types of specimens taken and tests performed (e.g., serology, culture, or toxicology), and statistical methods used. For survey and surveillance data, response rates should be specified. For statistical software, provide the version and manufacturer in parentheses after the software name, as shown in the following example: “SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute) was used to conduct all analyses.”
4. Results
The results section is a concise highlighting of major results of the analysis. Examples might include elements of the descriptive (i.e., time, place, person) and epidemiological results, disease trends and rates, treatments, and outcomes. Minor results from tables or figures should not be highlighted in the results. Case reports and series should include details on exposure, signs and symptoms, initial diagnosis, laboratory and radiological findings, treatment, clinical course, and outcome. Generally, data highlighted in the text are also presented in a table or figure.
5. Actions taken
When appropriate, one or two sentences should be provided describing any control measures implemented.
6. Discussion
The Discussion section is the only section with a heading. It should begin by stating the conclusions of the report, interpreting the results, conveying their public health meaning, and placing the results into context by citing comparative or corroborative studies. Preplanned Studies Reports should include a limitations paragraph, typically placed near the end of the Discussion. The Discussion should conclude by stating the implications of the findings to public health practice and any recommendations for prevention and control. When appropriate, specific examples of successful public health interventions should be included. A common fault is the inclusion of recommendations that, although sound, do not follow from the analysis presented in the report.
7. Authorship
Criteria for Weekly authors are as follows:
a. Weekly Reports attribution policy follows guidance from the relevant sections of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) for medical publishing and research.
(http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html)
Authorship credit should be based on three conditions, all of which must be met: 1) substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; 2) drafting the report or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and 3) final approval of the version to be published.
b. All authors must assume responsibility for the published version of the manuscript. Authors should be able to defend their contribution independently. Collectively, authors should be able to defend the design, execution, and conclusions of the report.
c. Persons will not be listed as authors merely by virtue of their position in an organization or by attendance at a meeting. Similarly, participation solely in the acquisition of funding, the collection of data, or general supervision of the research group is not sufficient for authorship.
d. Persons or groups that reviewed a submission for a clearance process, suggested revisions, or limited changes to a submission will not be listed as authors.
e. An Acknowledgments section may be used to recognize the work of persons who made substantial contributions to the project but do not meet the Weekly author criteria.
f. The list of authors follows the title. First and last names and middle initials (optional) should be used and the single highest academic degree (masters or above) should follow the names. The organizational affiliation will be footnoted as in the example. Contact information should be provided for the corresponding author.
g. The order of authorship should be a joint decision of the coauthors. Weekly reports recognize that scientific work is a collaboration and collaborators have a responsibility to define, accept, and fulfill their roles. Weekly reports recommend that author order be discussed early during a collaboration and revised as needed as the work progresses. Authorship order, including choice of first author, should be based on the level of contribution to the report and the work underlying it. The first author will have responsibility for the integrity of the work from inception to publication. First authors are also responsible for providing leadership in determining order of the other coauthors, establishing writing assignments, providing direction for reviews and revisions, and compiling drafts. The first author should ensure an open forum for coauthors to share their concerns and suggestions and should ensure that all ethical considerations (e.g., IRB review and disclosure of conflicts of interest) have been addressed.
h. An example of the author format is as follows: Progress toward measles elimination in the People’s Republic of China, 2013 – March 2019. Chao Ma1; Lance Rodewald1; Lixin Hao1; Qiru Su1; Yan Zhang2; Ning Wen1; Chunxiang Fan1; Hong Yang1; Huiming Luo1; Huaqing Wang1; James L. Goodson3; Zundong Yin1; Zijian Feng1 (Author affiliations at end of text)
1 National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention；2 Institutes for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, National Measles-Rubella Laboratory Network, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention；3 Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Corresponding author: Zundong Yin, yinzd@chinacdc.cn)
8. Acknowledgments
May be used to recognize the work of persons involved in the project but who do not meet CCDCW contributor criteria. The corresponding author should ensure that all named individuals have consented to being listed under Acknowledgments.
9. References
Must be limited to 10.
B. Outbreak Reports
Outbreak Reports are reports on public health emergencies, clusters of cases, and special cases, etc., which requires a chronological description of the outbreak management process.
These should generally follow the format of Preplanned Studies with some elements specific to outbreak reporting. In Outbreak Reports, only the introductory paragraph does not include a header.
1. Summary box
See Preplanned Studies.
2. Introductory paragraph (no header)
Generally, the introductory paragraph should begin with one to three sentences establishing the existence of the outbreak or underlying public health problem. (e.g., “At the beginning of April 2019, China National Health Commission and China Center for Disease Control and Prevention received a cluster febrile illness involving about ten Chinese workers in a manganese ore in Cooperative Republic of Guyana”). The introductory paragraph also usually contains:
1) A statement that an investigation was conducted, providing when and by whom;
2) The most important finding(s);
3) The actions taken to address the outbreak;
4) A statement of the public health implications and actions that should be taken in response to the investigation.
3. Investigation and Results
a. First, present the initial investigation and its findings. This might include:
1) A description of the setting and a statement of how the outbreak came to the attention of health authorities;
2) A clinical description of the index case or initial cases;
3) Initial key test results;
4) Hypothesis generation activities and results.
b. Second, summarize the full investigation, including the following: case definition, case-finding activities, method of investigation, and results. Cases should be counted and described by clinical characteristics, treatment, outcome, and descriptive results such as time, place, and person.
c. Next, present the methods and results of any analytic epidemiologic studies (e.g., cohort or case-control studies).
d. Finally, provide detection results of any relevant microbiological, genetic, or toxicological tests, followed by the results of any testing of environmental samples.
4. Public Health Response
When appropriate, a brief description summarizing any public health interventions taken and the results of the interventions that followed.
5. Discussion
Same as a Preplanned Study, except that a Limitations paragraph might not be required for an Outbreak Report.
6. Acknowledgments
See Preplanned Studies.
7. References
See Preplanned Studies.
C. Policy Notes.
Policy Notes are mainly for the brief interpretation of the latest public health policies and technical documents (such as recommendations and guidelines from China CDC). These reports can include Recommendations and Guidelines. Maximum word count at submission is 1,400 words. Up to three tables, figures, or boxes may be included. Contributors should check published reports similar to their submission to determine the optimal format and structure for their reports. Policy Notes can vary considerably. The following is a rough guide. The introductory paragraph does not have a heading, but all other sections should. A summary box is not required for Policy Notes.
1. Introductory paragraph
The introductory paragraph should be limited to 150–200 words. It might contain all or some of the following components: a brief introductory statement orienting the reader to the topic and placing it in context, a brief description of the public health problem, a brief statement of the rationale for the policy or recommendation, mention of the most important parts of the policy or recommendations, and one or two sentences stating the conclusions and the public health implications of the new policy or recommendations.
2. Background
The Policy Note should include a paragraph after the introduction that summarizes background information relevant to the policy or recommendations that can help the reader understand the context and need for the policy or recommendation.
3. Methods
Policy Notes should include a summary of the methods used to establish the policy or recommendation, including answers to some or all of these questions:
a. Who was involved in the production of the guidelines or recommendations, and how were they involved?
b. What evidence base was considered?
c. What was the rationale for considering this evidence base? Was other evidence excluded from consideration and, if so, why?
4. Rationale and Evidence
The Policy Note should provide a concise review of the rationale for the policy or recommendation and a descriptive review of the scientific evidence used to establish it. It should include an explanation of how the policy or recommendation adds to or differs from relevant previously established policies or recommendations.
5. Presentation
The policy or recommendation should state clearly when it takes effect and to whom and under what circumstances it applies.
6. Discussion
The Policy Note should comment on the likely impact of the new policy or recommendation and plans for assessment.
7. References
See Preplanned Studies.
D. Notes from the Field
Notes from the Field are short reports, mainly focused on the investigation of ongoing or recent events in the field of public health, showing brief findings and progress in response to readers' concerns before a full report is formed.
Events of concern include epidemics/outbreaks, unusual disease clusters, poisonings, exposures to disease or disease agents (including environmental and toxic), and notable public health-related case reports. These reports may contain early unconfirmed information, preliminary results, hypotheses regarding risk factors and exposures, and other similarly incomplete information. No definitive conclusions need to be presented in Notes from the Field.
1. Format
The ideal length of the text is 500 words. Longer submission might be accepted, but the justification for exceeding the 500 word limit requires discussion with an editor of the Weekly. One table, one figure, or one box will be considered, especially if its inclusion makes it possible to shorten the text. References should be kept to an absolute minimum. Notes from the Field should contain a brief introduction describing the onset of the event and when and how it came to light, followed by descriptions of the investigation, magnitude and extent of the event (e.g., number of known cases or geographical occurrence), outcomes (e.g., hospitalizations or deaths), and any preliminary conclusions and actions that were, are being, or should be taken based on the findings in the report.
2. Criteria for authors
Because these reports are abbreviated, attribution should be strictly limited to those persons or organizations responsible for writing the report or to the person or organization that can provide the query information to the public directly.
E. Vital Surveillances
Vital Surveillance reports are periodic summaries and analyses of the surveillance data of the diseases, risk factors, and important public health problems. Vital Surveillance reports have a particular format and subject plan, specifically related to one of the fifteen public health issues detailed by Healthy China 2030 (health literacy, healthy diets, fitness habits, tobacco control, mental health, healthy environments, maternal and newborn health, primary and secondary school student health, worker health, senior citizen health, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, infectious and endemic diseases). The introductory section of the main text should not have a heading, but all other sections should.
1. Structured abstract (≤250 words):
a. Introduction: Background and purpose.
b. Methods: Database, years, respondents, weighting.
c. Results: New findings.
d. Conclusions: Self-explanatory.
2. Text (≤1,800 words):
a. Introduction (no heading)
The introductory paragraph(s) should, like Preplanned Studies, contain a brief background to provide context and previous results, purpose of the study, a brief overview of methods and results, and public health implications of the findings.
b. Methods
The Methods section should focus briefly on the nature of the database, respondents, response rate, analytic approach, and statistical methods used. Because methods involved in the analysis of national databases have generally been previously published and references should be provided, limited text should be devoted to information available elsewhere.
c. Results
The Results section should include only new findings. This includes new analyses that have not yet been published that use unpublished or published databases or summaries. The latter two categories include, for example, public data sets and annual or interim surveillance summaries. However, the results should not simply include already published analyses, but rather new findings made evident by original analyses conducted by the authors.
d. Conclusions
The Conclusions section should highlight one or two main findings of the results and put them into context. Such context would include previously published comparative studies and limitations. This section must include the implications of these findings for public health such as the need for new or reinforced local/national programs, establishment or improvement of laws or regulations, activities appropriate to a variety of different groups, and special attention needed for high-risk groups. This section should include 2-3 limitations and recommendations for future research directions.
e. References
Limited to 15.
f. Tables and figures
Limited to a total of four.
F. Healthy China
Healthy China publishes and shares China's practice and experience in implementing the “Healthy China 2030 Initiative” and “Healthy China Action Plan (2019 - 2030)”, including projects, environments, actions, strategies, and appropriate technologies. The required text should not exceed 1800 English words.
G. Recollections and Reflections
Recollections and Reflections articles review the history of epidemics and control of important diseases and summarize strategies, models, experiences and lessons in prevention and control in China.
The optimal format and structure are determined by reports and can vary considerably. The text should not exceed 1,800 English words, but justification for exceeding this limit may be discussed with an editor.
H. Reviews and Perspectives
Reviews and Perspectives articles summarize the domestic and international research results of disease prevention and control and express representative views in the field of public health.
The optimal format and structure are determined by reports and can vary considerably. The text should not exceed 1,800 English words, but justification for exceeding this limit may be discussed with an editor.
I. Announcements and Notices to Readers
Announcements are introductions to important public health days (e.g., World AIDS Day). These articles usually use relevant vital surveillance and investigation reports as the cover. Notices to Readers are generally used to inform the readers about changes in the Weekly and to publish correction information.
J. Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reports
Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reports contain official statistics of reported occurrence of nationally notifiable infectious diseases and public health emergencies in China.
K. Methods and Applications
Methods and Applications reports include evidence and conclusions of new developments to existing methods regarding one or more public health challenges. These may include novel techniques to sequence emerging infectious diseases, updates to current practices in the diagnosis, treatment, or surveillance of outbreaks, etc. These reports have a particular format, plan, and publishing date and should adhere to the general principles of Preplanned Studies. The editorial board reserves the right to adjust the format on a case-by-case basis. The Introduction section in the main text should not have a heading, but all other sections should.
1. Structured abstract (≤200 words):
a. Introduction: Background and purpose.
b. Methods: Sampling techniques, equipment/procedures, analytical techniques.
c. Results: Only new findings.
d. Discussion: Implications for public health practice.
2. Text (≤1,800 words):
a. Introduction (no heading)
This section should include the most relevant background information regarding the public health challenge, the current solutions, and the gap that remains to be filled.
b. Methods
Because this category is focused on developments to existing techniques, the methods section should be adequately rich with details on describing what was done and how it was done. The sampling techniques, analytical approach, and statistical methods should be clearly explained.
c. Results
The results are a concise highlighting of the major results of the analysis, especially those relevant to the developments being reported. This section should include all evidence used to support the claims and therefore should include as much related detail as possible. However, the results should not simply include already published analyses, but rather new findings made evident by original analyses conducted by the authors.
d. Discussion
The conclusions and comment should clearly indicate why the findings support the claims and provide context for potential implications and applications for solving public health challenges. Such context would include previously published comparative studies and limitations. A minimum of 2-3 distinct limitations should be included.
e. References
Limited to 15.
f. Tables and figures
Limited to a total of four.
III. Formatting Requirements and Author Submission Checklist
A. Text
Create a new Microsoft Word document for your text. Do not use a previously created Word document as the basis (i.e., a template) for your report. Use of a previous document will make your report unusable. Maximum length varies by report type and does not include title, authors, footnotes, references, figures, tables, boxes, and acknowledgments.
When creating the manuscript, the text must be in Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins and single-spaced paragraphs (6-point spacing made be added after paragraphs); headers may be bolded; italics should be used where appropriate (e.g., titles of journals, names of species, etc.). The Weekly adheres to American-language publishing standards.
Failure to comply with these standards may delay publication, or, in severe cases, result in returning of the manuscript until the adjustments are made.
B. Titles
The titles of submitted manuscripts should be roughly 150 characters, or 20 words, and should strive to answer the following questions:
1) What was the study about?
2) When was the data of the study collected?
3) Where was the data of study collected?
An example of a title that answers the above questions is as follows: “Healthy Lifestyles and Chronic Pain with New-Onset Metabolic-related Multimorbidity among Older Adults – China, 2011-2018”
C. References
Follow the style of Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html. In text, place reference number “callouts” in parentheses “(1).” Number the references within the text in order of appearance, then list in numeric order at end of report. Do not submit with Reference Manager engaged.
D. Tables and Figures
Tables should be created in Word using the table function or in Excel. Contributors should study tables in previous reports for style. Tables cannot have tabs or extra spaces within the cells. Any numbers greater than one thousand need to add thousands separator (1,000 instead of 1000). Tables should be provided embedded in the text but should be sent in separate files. For tables listing epidemiological data by geographic division (e.g., provincial-level administrative divisions; PLADs), Weekly prefers to publish table data sorted by performance. Figures should be created in (not pasted into) Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, Excel or (in the case of maps) other text editable vector format files (such as .ai, .eps, and .wmf). Bar graphs or line graphs should have underlying data tables. Figures should be sent in separate files and not embedded in text. Place keys/legends within the Figure. Maps must have an approval number before submission. This approval number can be acquired on the official website of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China (https://www.mnr.gov.cn/bsznxxk/fwzn/202302/t20230213_2775743.html).
E. Footnotes
For footnotes, do not submit with the endnotes function of MS Word engaged. Use the following footnote symbols in order of appearance: *, †, §, ¶, **, ††, §§, ¶¶, etc. All others are superscripted.
IV. Clearance
The clearance of the Weekly’s manuscript is in the form of internal clearance and peer review.
A.Clearance
Before submitting to ScholarOne-Weekly, an internal clearance process of the author's original division/department/center is required to review and confirm the scientific rigor and compliance of the manuscript. Having the English reviewed by native-English speakers is required; failure to reach a certain language standard in English may result in delay of publication or, in severe cases, conditional or final rejection.
B. Peer-review
After internal clearance, the manuscript is submitted to the ScholarOne-Weekly review system. The executive editor (EE) organizes the senior scientific editing (SSE) team to discuss and triage the manuscript. The scientific editor (SE) selects reviewers and relies on the system database and an established expert base to peer-review the manuscript and communicate with the author for any revisions. This process is a double-blind peer-review process that utilizes available resources to select reviewers that are experts in the field.
The SSE performs a second review of scientific rigor and compliance, and after the professional English editorial review, submits the manuscript to the chief editor or executive deputy editor for final review. If needed, a review meeting of the editorial board will be held to discuss the decision.
V. Submission, Acceptance, and Scheduling
Unless Weekly has agreed to expedite publication, cleared Preplanned Studies should be submitted at least 5 weeks (35 calendar days) before the Friday issue date. Generally, Announcements and Notices to Readers should be submitted 14 calendar days before the Friday issue date. Submission deadlines for reports that Weekly has agreed to expedite are established on an individual basis.
A. All manuscript acceptances and publication are determined by the Weekly editor.
B. After a report has been accepted for publication, Weekly will assign a publication date. Considering the progress of certain projects and special date schedules (for example, in conjunction with World AIDS Day activities), the date of publication of such reports can be predetermined.
C. Contributors should submit their final, cleared report through the ScholarOne-Weekly Manuscripts system. In separate attachments, contributors should send the Evidence of Clearance and Conflict of Interest Form as well as the text, tables and figures.
VI. Guidance for Correcting Errors
Correction of errors preserves the integrity of scientific and public health literature. They also protect the reputations of the authors, the Weekly and China CDC by demonstrating commitment to ensuring accurate science.
A. Errors Related to Small Portions of Text, Figures, or Tables.
Requests to publish corrections should be sent to your report editor. An Erratum will be published in the Weekly as soon as possible following notification about the error.
B. Pervasive Errors Throughout the Text, Figures, or Tables.
If pervasive errors are brought to the attention of authors or Weekly editors, it’s our obligation to transparently correct the literature. After reviewing the nature and source of the errors for each case, Weekly staff will assess the report in collaboration with other CDC leadership, as indicated. In cases with suspected scientific misconduct, the editorial office will determine the appropriate corrective action. In cases of inadvertent, pervasive errors, the Editor-in-Chief will determine the appropriate method for correcting the report based on current scientific publication guidance. Below are the most likely paths for correcting inadvertent, pervasive errors.
1. For reports that have pervasive errors but the corrections do not change the conclusions or interpretation of the report, Weekly will correct the literature through correction and republication.
2. For reports that have pervasive errors that change the interpretation or the conclusions when corrected, Weekly will correct the literature through Retraction. In collaboration with authors, Weekly will determine whether it is appropriate to also republish the report at the time of retraction.
VII. Other Editorial Policies
A. Advertising Policy.
The Weekly currently does not accept or display any advertising.
B. Conflicts of Interest.
Conflicts of interest, or competing interests, may exist when individuals experience a divergence between their primary scientific and publishing interests and a secondary, private interest that may cast doubt to an observer on the individuals’ judgment, behavior, or conduct. Authors should disclose all conflicts of interest on the relevant form.
C. Informed Consent and Research Ethics.
Informed consent for individuals involved in the studies must be obtained in accordance with relevant research ethics boards and institutions that have funded and/or approved the study before commencement of the study. Relevant approval numbers must be included in the submission of manuscripts using individual-level data and will be verified prior to publication.
D. Copyright and Licensing
Peer-reviewed articles available through the Weekly protected by copyright that belongs to the respective authors and are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC) with the Weekly being the exclusive licensee.
The respective copyright holders retain rights for reproduction, redistribution, and reuse. Readers of the Weekly are directly and solely responsible for compliance with copyright restrictions and are expected to adhere to the terms and conditions defined by the copyright holder. Transmission, reproduction, or reuse of protected material, beyond that allowed by the fair use principles of the copyright laws, requires the permission of the copyright owners.
VIII. Contact Information
E-mail: weekly@chinacdc.cn
Telephone: +86-10-63150501, 63150701
Mailing address: No.155 Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, China, 102206