Instructions for Authors
(Updated Nov 26, 2025)

Contents

 1.0 Criteria for Publication

 2.0 Types of Reports

   2.1 Preplanned Studies

   2.2 Vital Surveillances

   2.3 Outbreak Reports

   2.4 Methods and Applications

   2.5 Reviews

   2.6 Healthy China

   2.7 Policy Notes

   2.8 Notes from the Field

   2.9 Recommendation

   2.10 Perspectives and Commentary

   2.11 Recollections and Reflections

   2.12 Announcements

 3.0 Authorship and Acknowledgment

   3.1 Authors

   3.2 Acknowledgments

 4.0 Specific Guidance on Formatting Submissions

   4.1 Report Text

   4.2 Report Title

   4.3 Authors, Affiliations, and Corresponding Author

   4.4 Conflicts of interest

   4.5 Acknowledgments

   4.6 Ethical statements

   4.7 Funding

   4.8 References

   4.9 Footnotes

   4.10 Summary Box

   4.11 Tables, Figures, and Text Boxes

 5.0 Clearance, Submission, and Acceptance

   5.1 Clearance

   5.2 Submission

   5.3 Acceptance

 6.0 Scheduling and Editing

   6.1 Scheduling

   6.2 Editing

 7.0 Submitting Supplementary Tables and Figures

 8.0 Guidance for Correcting Post-Publication Errors

   8.1 Errors Related to Small Portions of Text, Figures, or Tables.

   8.2 Pervasive Errors Throughout the Text, Figures, or Tables.

 9.0 Other Editorial Policies

   9.1 Advertising Policy.

   9.2 Conflicts of Interest.

   9.3 Informed Consent and Research Ethics.

   9.4 Copyright and Licensing

 10.0 Contact Information

1.0 Criteria for Publication

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.

Appropriateness: 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.

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.

Quality: Surveillance data analysis, surveys, and research reports published by 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.

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 Notes from feild should be reported within 3 months , data from outbreaks should be reported within 10 months, and data from surveillance systems and other sources should be reported within 3 years.

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.

2.0 Types of Reports

Twelve types of reports are published in China CDC Weekly: 1) Preplanned Studies, 2) Vital Surveillances, 3) Outbreak Reports, 4) Methods and Applications, 5) Reviews, 6) Healthy China, 7) Policy Notes, 8) Notes from the Field, 9) Recommendation, 10) Perspectives and commentary, 11) Recollections and Reflections, 12) Announcements .

2.1 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. 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. 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.

2.1.1 Abstract (150–200 words, no references or footnotes)

The Abstract is similar to both a newspaper lead paragraph (i.e., who, what, when, where, why, and how?) and the abstract of a report in a typical medical journal. It will be deposited as an abstract into online databases (e.g., PubMed, PubMed Central, and Web of Science).

Include the following components (structured [i.e., labeled]):

Introduction: what is the problem? why is this worth writing about?

Methods: brief summary of study design, data source, and statistical analysis

Results: Key findings (present one or two main results that support the public health message

Conclusion: conclusion and public health message (state the implications of the findings for public health practice and any call to action or recommendations for prevention and control)

All information in the Abstract should be included in the corresponding section of the body of the report.

2.1.2 Introduction (no  heading)

Provide background information on the problem, its public health importance, and the rationale for the work described in the report.

2.1.3 Methods (no  heading)

Provide a concise summary of the methods used to conduct the study and analyze the data.

The components of this section will vary depending on the study. Components might include sections, such as Study Design, Study Period, Study Population, Population Characteristics, Data Sources, Case Definitions, Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria, Data Collection, Specimen Collection, Laboratory Testing, and Statistical Methods (including modeling techniques, control variables, and α levels for significance tests). Specify response rate where relevant (e.g., for survey data).

Because methods involved in data collection for ongoing surveillance systems and some other databases might have been previously published, limited text should be devoted to information available elsewhere, with reference to the previous publication.

List the statistical software used for analysis, with the version and manufacturer in parentheses after the software name, as shown in the following examples:

SAS software  (version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was used to conduct all analyses.

The best-fitting model was identified using sequential permutation tests in JoinPoint (version 4.7.0.0; National Cancer Institute).

Specific procedures used for complex modeling (e.g., SAS PROC GENMOD) may be named but are not required.

Do not name software used for data management.

2.1.4 Results  (no  heading)

Include new findings made evident by original analyses conducted by the authors.

Concisely highlight the major results of the analysis. Content should be organized using appropriate subheadings.

Epidemiologic studies might describe elements of the descriptive (i.e., time, place, and person) and analytic results, disease trends, exposures, treatments, and outcomes. Appropriate subheadings might include Population Characteristics, Case Characteristics, Laboratory Results, Genetic Testing Results, Univariate Analysis, and Multivariable Analysis.

Case reports and series should include details on exposure, signs and symptoms, initial diagnosis, laboratory and radiologic findings, treatment, clinical course, and outcome. In reports in which more than one case is described, individual cases should be identified with subheadings (e.g., Case 1, Case 2, and others as appropriate).

Data highlighted in the text are also generally presented in a table or figure.

Data referenced in the Discussion section must be included in the Results section.

2.1.5 Discussion

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.

2.1.5.1 Limitations

Include a labeled Limitations paragraph as the next to last paragraph. Limitations are aspects of the data or analysis that might affect the accuracy or validity of results.

Begin with “The findings in this report are subject to at least X limitations,” with “X” representing the number of limitations in the paragraph.

List limitations in paragraph format as “First,” “Second,” “Third,” etc., ending with “Finally” for the last limitation.

Indicate how each limitation might have affected the results.

2.1.5.2 Implications for Public Health Practice

Conclude with labeled Implications for Public Health Practice and any recommendations for prevention and control, including a specific call to action when possible.

Primary recommendations should be based on the analysis presented in the report.

If analyses suggest the possible benefit of public health actions that are not reflected in the current national guidance or policy, language that is not policy directive should be used (e.g., “These analyses suggest that doing “X” might help prevent “Y”.).

Broader public health guidance that is current and related to the report topic (including existing national guidance and other consensus recommendations) may also be cited in this section. The source of the guidance should be described in the report and a reference to the published guidance should be included.

When appropriate, specific examples of successful public health interventions should be included.

A statement that more research is needed is not an implication for public health practice. If the report points to specific knowledge gaps that should be addressed to better inform public health practice, these gaps should be described earlier in the Discussion section.

2.1.6 Other Preplanned Studies Components

Other Preplanned Studies components that are not included in the word count are listed below with links to formatting guidance.

Summary box (use a heading for this section)

Conflicts of interest (use a heading for this section)

Acknowledgments (optional; use a heading for this section)

Ethical statement  (use a heading for this section)

Funding (optional; use a heading for this section)

Corresponding author

Author affiliations

References (≤10; use a heading for this section)

Footnotes (<10; ≤80 words each)

Tables, Figures, and Boxes (≤3 total)

Supplementary Tables and Figures (optional; ≤3 total)

2.2 Vital Surveillances

Vital Surveillance reports are periodic summaries and analyses of the surveillance data (from last three years) 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).

Vital Surveillance reports have an established format. The format of Vital Signs includes a structured, labeled abstract (≤250 words) which will be deposited into online databases (e.g., PubMed, PubMed Central, and Web of Science) and main text (≤1800 words, not including the abstract) that contains headings for the Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections. Authors should check the most recently published Vital Surveillance and adhere to the format of those reports while also adhering to the general principles of Preplanned Studies. For examples, see https://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/zcustom/currentVolume/1.

2.2.1 Structured abstract with four subheadings below (≤250 words, no references or footnotes)

Introduction: background and purpose

Methods: database, years, respondents, weighting

Results: only new findings

Conclusions: Conclusion and Implications for Public Health Practice,  include a call to action describing what can be done to address the problem

2.2.2 Main text (≤1,800 words)

Introduction: provide background information on the problem, its public health importance, and the rationale for the work described in the report.

Methods (content is the same as for a Preplanned Studies)

Results (content is the same as for a Preplanned Studies)

Discussion (content is the same as for a Preplanned Studies)

The Discussion contains conclusions followed by labeled Limitations and Public Health Implications subsections.

A Vital Surveillance discussion conclusion must include a call to action describing what can be done by various audiences to address the problem described in the report.

2.2.3 Other Vital Surveillance Components

Other components that are not included in the word count are listed below with links to formatting guidance.

Conflicts of interest (use a heading for this section)

Acknowledgments (optional; use a heading for this section)

Ethical statement  (use a heading for this section)

Funding (optional; use a heading for this section)

Corresponding author

Author affiliations

References (≤20; use a heading for this section)

Footnotes (<16; ≤80 words each)

Tables, Figures, and Boxes (≤4 total)

Supplementary Tables and Figures (optional; ≤3 total)

2.3 Outbreak Reports

Outbreak Reports are ≤1,400 words total, not including the abstract. Outbreak Reports should generally follow the format of Preplanned studies, with some elements specific to outbreak reporting which are described below. Outbreak Reports generally include labeled Abstract, A brief introduction to the basic situation of disease outbreaks (No heading for this section), Investigation and Results, Public Health Response, and Discussion sections. Different formats and section headings can be used depending on the scope of the outbreak, its investigation, and the public health response. For example, separate sections for Epidemiologic Investigation, Environmental Health Investigation, and Laboratory Investigation, might be used to describe different components of the investigation. As much as possible, an Outbreak Report should read like a chronologic narrative and tell the story.

2.3.1 Structured abstract with four subheadings below (150–200 words, no references or footnotes)

The Abstract will be deposited as an abstract into online databases (e.g., PubMed, PubMed Central, and Web of Science).

Include the following components:

Introduction: One to three sentences establishing the existence of the outbreak or underlying public health problem

Methods: Statement that an investigation was conducted, when, and by whom

Results: Most important findings

Conclusion: Actions taken to stem the outbreak. Statement of the public health implications and actions that should be taken in response to the investigation. For some reports, authors may choose to reference existing consensus recommendations.

2.3.2 Investigation and Results

Present the initial investigation and its findings. This might include the following:

A description of the setting and a statement of how the outbreak came to the attention of health authorities

A clinical description of the index case or initial cases

Initial key test results

Hypothesis generation activities and results

Summarize the full investigation, including the case definition, case-finding activities, method of investigation, and results. Cases should be counted and described by clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome, as well as by time, place, and person, if applicable.

Present the methods and results of any analytic studies (e.g., cohort or case-control studies).

Provide the results of any relevant microbiologic, genetic, or toxicologic results, and results of any testing of environmental samples

2.3.3 Public Health Response

When appropriate, include a labeled Public Health Response section that provides a brief description summarizing any public health interventions taken and the results of the interventions.

2.3.4 Discussion

Format is the same as for a Preplanned Studies, except that a Limitations paragraph might not be necessary for an Outbreak Report.

2.3.5 Other Outbreak Report Components

Other Outbreak Report components that are not included in the word count are listed below with links to formatting guidance.

Summary box (use a heading for this section)

Conflicts of interest (use a heading for this section)

Acknowledgments (optional; use a heading for this section)

Ethical statement  (use a heading for this section)

Funding (optional; use a heading for this section)

Corresponding author

Author affiliations

References (≤10; use a heading for this section)

Footnotes (<10; ≤80 words each)

Tables, Figures, and Boxes (≤3 total)

Supplementary Tables and Figures (optional; ≤3 total)

2.4 Methods and Applications

The methods  and  application report  includes evidence and conclusions on the establishment of a new method in the field of public health, or on new improvements and developments based on existing methods. 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 format of Methods and Applications reports includes a structured, labeled abstract (≤250 words) which will be deposited into online databases (e.g., PubMed, PubMed Central, and Web of Science) and main text (≤1800 words, not including the abstract) that contains headings for the Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections.

2.4.1.Structured abstract with four subheadings below (≤250 words, no references or footnotes)

Introduction: Background and purpose.

Methods: Detection techniques,  improvement of equipment/procedures, analytical techniques.

Results: Only new findings（new techniques）.

Conclussion: Conclussion and implications for public health practice.

2.4.2 Introduction

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.

2.4.3 Methods

The majority of the Methods and Application column focuses on improvements and advancements in existing technologies, but it may also include new inventions or creations.  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.

2.4.4 Results

The results are a concise highlighting of the major results of the  new inventions or creations technologies, and improvements and advancements in existing technologies,, 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.

2.4.5 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.

2.4.6 Other Methods and Applications Components

Other components that are not included in the word count are listed below with links to formatting guidance.

Conflicts of interest (use a heading for this section)

Acknowledgments (optional; use a heading for this section)

Ethical statement  (use a heading for this section)

Funding (optional; use a heading for this section)

Corresponding author

Author affiliations

References (≤15; use a heading for this section)

Footnotes (<16; ≤80 words each)

Tables, Figures, and Boxes (≤4 total)

Supplementary Tables and Figures (optional; ≤3 total)

2.5 Reviews

Reviews articles summarize the domestic and international research results of disease prevention and control and express representative views in the field of public health. Reviews includes unstructured abstract and the required text less than 1,800 words, the optimal format and structure are determined by reports and can vary considerably

2.6  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 words.

2.7 Policy Notes

Policy Notes are mainly for the brief interpretation of the latest public health policies and technical documents. 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.

Headings are used for the Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Rationale and Evidence, Recommendation (or Interim Guidance or other appropriate heading), and Discussion sections.

Content within the sections should be organized using appropriate subheadings.

Policy Notes can vary considerably. The following is a general guide for formatting:

2.7.1 Abstract (150–200 words, unstructured, no references or footnotes)

The Abstract will be deposited as an abstract into online databases (e.g., PubMed, PubMed Central, and Web of Science).

Include the following components (unstructured):

Background (what is the problem? why is this worth writing about?)

Methods (brief summary of methods used to establish policy or recommendation)

Rationale and Evidence (present one or two main points that support the recommendation)

Recommendation (brief summary of policy or recommendation)

Public health message (state the implications of the recommendation for public health practice and any call to action for implementation)

2.7.2 Introduction (no headding)

Include a paragraph that summarizes background information relevant to the policy or recommendation that can help the reader understand the context and need for the policy or recommendation.

2.7.3 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:

Who was involved in the production of the guidelines or recommendations, and how were they involved?

What evidence base was considered?

What was the rationale for considering this evidence base? Was other evidence excluded from consideration and, if so, why?

2.7.4 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.

2.7.5 Presentation of the policy or recommendation

The policy or recommendation should state clearly when it takes effect and to whom and under what circumstances it applies.

2.7.6 Discussion

The Policy Note should comment on the likely impact of the new policy or recommendation, any call to action for implementation, and plans for assessment  of the policy or recommendation.

Policy Notes do not contain a limitations paragraph.

2.7.7 Other Policy Notes Components

Other Policy Notes components that are not included in the word count are listed below with links to formatting guidance.

Conflicts of interest (use a heading for this section)

Acknowledgments (optional; use a heading for this section)

Ethical statement  (use a heading for this section)

Funding (optional; use a heading for this section)

Corresponding author

Author affiliations

References (≤10; use a heading for this section)

Footnotes (<16; ≤80 words each)

Tables, Figures, and Boxes (≤3 total)

Supplementary Tables and Figures (optional; ≤3 total)

2.8 Notes from the Field

Notes from the Field are ≤500 words total and do not have an abstract. Notes from the Field are abbreviated reports describing ongoing or recent events of concern to the public health community. 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.

Notes from the Field should include a brief unlabeled introduction,  investigation and outcomes, and preliminary c onclusions and actions. Different headings can be used depending on the scope and format of the report. The following is a general guide for formatting.

2.8.1 Brief Introduction

The brief, unlabeled introduction should describe the onset of the event and when and how it came to light.

2.8.2 Investigation and Outcomes

Description of the investigation, magnitude, and extent of the event (e.g., number of known cases or geographical occurrence), and outcomes (e.g., hospitalizations or deaths).

One table, figure, or box will be considered, especially if its inclusion shortens the text.

Include a concise summary of the methods used to conduct the investigation and analyze the data.

2.8.3 Preliminary Conclusions and Actions

Preliminary conclusions and actions that were, are being, or should be taken based on the findings in the report.

No definitive conclusions need be presented.

A limitations paragraph might not be needed.

If analyses suggest the possible benefit of public health actions that are not reflected in existing current national guidanceor policy, language that is not policy directive should be used (e.g., “These analyses suggest that doing “X” might help prevent “Y”.).

Broader public health guidance that is current and related to the report topic (including existing national guidance and other consensus recommendations) may also be cited in this section. The source of the guidance should be described in the report and a reference to the published guidance should be included.

2.8.4 Other Notes from the Field Components

Other Notes from the Field components that are not included in the word count are listed below with links to formatting guidance.

Conflicts of interest (use a heading for this section)

Acknowledgments (optional; use a heading for this section)

Ethical statement  (use a heading for this section)

Funding (optional; use a heading for this section)

Corresponding author

Author affiliations

References (≤5; use a heading for this section)

Footnotes (≤5; ≤80 words each)

Table, Figure, or Box (≤1 total)

2.9 Recommendation

Recommendation mainly focus on expert consensus in the field, required unstructured abstract and the required text should not exceed ≤1,800 words, the optimal format and structure are determined by reports and can vary considerably.

2.10 Perspectives and commentary

Perspectives and Commentary  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 words, but justification for exceeding this limit may be discussed with an editor.

2.11 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 words, but justification for exceeding this limit may be discussed with an editor.

2.12 Announcements

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.

3.0 Authorship and Acknowledgment

3.1 Authors

Weekly reports may be authored by CDC staff members, non-CDC staff members, or a combination, but not authored by artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted technologies.

Weekly attribution policy follows guidance from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

Persons listed as authors must meet all four of the following conditions:

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;

3) final approval of the version to be published;

4) Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

ICMJE recommends that all persons who meet the first criterion should have the opportunity to participate in the review, drafting, and final approval of the manuscript. Persons should not be listed as authors solely by virtue of their position in an organization or by attendance at a meeting. Similarly, participation only in the acquisition of funding, fieldwork, or general supervision of one or more of the authors is not sufficient for authorship. Persons or groups who reviewed a manuscript for a clearance process or who suggested revisions or limited changes to a manuscript should not be listed as authors.

In accordance with ICMJE recommendations, chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT) should not be listed as authors because they cannot be responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality, which are requirements for authorship. Therefore, humans are responsible for any submitted material that includes the use of AI-assisted technologies. Authors should not list AI and AI-assisted technologies as an author or co-author, nor cite AI as an author.

The order of authors should be a joint decision of the coauthors. Weekly recognizes that scientific work is a collaboration and collaborators have a responsibility to define, accept, and fulfill their roles. Weekly recommends that author order be discussed early and revised as needed as the work progresses. Author order, including choice of first author, should be based on the level of contribution to the report and the work underlying it. At times, two authors contribute equally to a report in a major role. Authors can indicate dual first or senior authorship. These authors’ names should be footnoted in the author list, and the footnotes describing equal contribution should be the first (and if also dual senior authors, second) footnotes in the report (i.e., included with all the other footnotes).

If authors request removal or addition of an author after manuscript submission or publication, they should provide Weekly with an explanation and signed statement of agreement for the requested change from all listed authors and from the author to be removed or added.

At times, a group will meet China CDC’s criteria for authorship. If there is a group author on the byline, the group title and list of individual members may be included following the text of the report and any general Acknowledgments; persons listed in the group will be indexed in PubMed as collaborators. Weekly follows U.S. National Library of Medicine guidance for designating authors and other contributors in MEDLINE.

All authors who are listed on the byline are responsible for disclosing all relationships and activities that might bias or be seen to bias their work as potential conflicts of interest, such as financial relationships, personal relationships, competition or rivalries, and intellectual beliefs upon article submission. If the submission is accepted for publication, the Weekly editor will draft a conflict of interest statement for the article based on the forms submitted by the authors. In general, Weekly follows guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Guidelines on Good Publication Practice, and ICMJE’s Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly work in Medical Journals .

Any individual author can be designated as the corresponding author. In accordance with ICMJE recommendations, the corresponding author has primary responsibility for communicating with Weekly staff and will:

• Ensure that all administrative requirements are met, including

• Obtaining and archiving written permission from all persons listed as authors and all persons listed in the Acknowledgments

• Ensuring that all ethical considerations (e.g., institutional review board review or disclosure of conflicts of interest) have been addressed

• Be available throughout the submission, review, and publication processes to respond to editorial queries in a timely way

• Be available after publication to respond should postpublication questions about the paper arise  

3.2 Acknowledgments

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.

4.0 Specific Guidance on Formatting Submissions

4.1 Report Text

Create a new Microsoft (MS) 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.

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.). 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.

Report components in the primary MS Word file should be in this order (not all components are required for every report):

• Report title

• List of authors

• Corresponding author

• Author affiliations

• Abstract

• Report text

• Conflicts of interest

• Acknowledgments

• Ethical statements

• Funding

• References

• Footnotes

• Summary box

Maximum length varies by report type and does not include title, authors, footnotes, references, figures, tables, boxes, conflicts of interest, funding, ethical statement, and acknowledgments and supplementary materials.

Because Weekly represents the voice of China CDC, use of first person (e.g., I, we, our) is not permitted in Weekly publications.

4.2 Report Title

Title includes topic followed by em dash (—) offset by spaces, data source (if used), location, and timeframe (date range should include an en dash (–) between beginning and ending dates with no space preceding or following the en dash. For example: “Evaluation of the Cherokee Nation Hepatitis C Virus Elimination Program — Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, 2015–2020.”

Do not refer to direction or comparison (e.g., “Trends in …” or “Larger…”).

4.3 Authors, Affiliations, and Corresponding Author

The list of authors follows the title. First and last names and middle initials (optional) should be used . The organizational affiliation will be a superscripted numera. Do not combine multiple affiliations for an author under one number; each affiliation should be reported separately. Affiliations should include city and province.

Provide the corresponding author’s contact information (name [as appears in author list] and e-mail address) below the author affiliations section.

If there is a group author on the byline, the group title and list of members may be included immediately after the text of the report and any general Acknowledgments. Provide author names (no degrees) and short affiliations (organization or location). Reference this report (https://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/doi/10.46234/ccdcw2020.032) for an example.

See examples below for preferred order and format:

• Report Title

• List of authors:

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)

4.4 Conflicts of interest

Authors are required to disclose any conflicts of interest.

4.5 Acknowledgments

List non-author contributors as “Person 1, Person 2, Affiliation 1; Person 3, Affiliation 2”; etc.

• Do not include degrees.

• Group together persons who are affiliated with the same CDC division or external entity and separate their names using commas; names are listed alphabetically unless the authors prefer otherwise.

• Separate affiliations or group acknowledgments using semicolons.

• Affiliations do not include city and state  

An example is provided below:

All community members and service providers who participated in qualitative interviews; Sergio Caraballo, Sofia Mendez, Buena Gente Community Fund; Joshua Johnson, Green County Board of Health; Tegan Boehmer, Rachel Kaufmann, CDC; Elizabeth Smart, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine.

4.6 Ethical statements

Evidence for approval by a local ethics committee (for both human as well as animal studies) must be supplied by the authors on demand.

For all biomedical research involving human subiects. the following regulations must be observed:

Domestically:

• “Measures for the Ethical Review of Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects’’ Measures for the Ethical Review of Biomedical Research Involving Humans

• “Measures for the Ethical Review of Life Sciences and Medical Research Involving Human Subiects” Measures for the Ethical Review of Biomedical Research Involving Humans

• “Laboratory animals-General code of animal welfare’ (GB/T 42011-2022).

Internationally:

• “The Declaration of Helsinki of the World MedicalAssociation: Ethical Principles for Medical ResearchInvolving Human Subjects’, revised in 2013.

• The Council for International Organizations of MedicaSciences(CIOMS),“nternational Ethical Guidelinesfor Health-related Research Involving Humans”, 2016Edition.

If the research does not involve ethical review, it also needs to be stated at the end of the article.

4.7 Funding

The author should faithfully list the funding projects supporting this research.

4.8 References

In text, number the references in order of appearance. Place reference number callouts in parentheses inside of any punctuation. Italicize the material within the parentheses only; do not italicize the parentheses themselves. Do not include a space after the comma when listing multiple reference numbers. For example: (1), (2,3), (1–3).

In the References section at the end of the report, list references in numeric order. Follow the style of Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.

Preprints should be cited as references.

Do not use the references function of MS Word or reference manager software to create the reference list.

4.9 Footnotes

Use the following footnote symbols in order of appearance: *, †, §, ¶, **, ††, §§, ¶¶, etc. All others are superscripted. All symbols are superscripted except *. Footnote symbols should be placed outside of any punctuation except semicolons and colons. For example: “The study identified one patient with condition X,** and two patients with condition Y.††”

Each footnote should be ≤80 words; the maximum length of all footnotes combined is 700 words.

Each footnote callout may only be used once in the body of the report.

Do not use the endnotes function of MS Word to create footnotes.

The first occurrence of an abbreviation in abstract/summary/main text/supplementary materials must be spelled out in full. If abbreviations are used in figures or tables, their full spellings should be provided in the figure or table abbreviation parts.

4.10 Summary Box

The Summary Box contains the key public health message, as well as the justification for the publication. It is a shorter version of and must only contain information provided in the Abstract. Essentially, it is an abstract of the abstract. It may be written in plainer language because it might be used in social media. Active voice is preferred. Use of first person (e.g., I, we, our) and directive language (e.g., “do this,” “don’t do this”) are not permitted.

4.10.1 Summary Questions and Answers

The summary box provides brief answers (one or two short sentences each) to the three questions below. The maximum length is 100 words total, not including the three question headings.

• What is already known about this topic? (align with background in Abstract)

• What is added by this report? (align with results in Abstract)

• What are the implications for public health practice? (align with public health message in Abstract and conclusion of report)     

4.10.2 Summary examples

Below are two summary box examples that meet the requirements. Authors can refer to published reports for additional examples.

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Childhood overweight and obesity pose significant risks to physical and mental health. The Nutrition Improvement Programme for Rural Compulsory Education Students (NIPRCES) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing malnutrition.

What is added by this report?

From 2012 to 2023, obesity prevalence increased more rapidly (AAPC=10.6%) than overweight prevalence (AAPC=2.0%) among children aged 6–15 years in central and western rural China. A quicker increase in the trends of overweight and obesity was observed in rural western China (AAPC for overweight=3.0%, AAPC for obesity=11.8%), among males (AAPC for overweight=2.1%, AAPC for obesity=10.8%). Additionally, while the prevalence of overweight/obesity was lower in older age groups of children, these cohorts showed more rapid increases.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Continuous monitoring of prevalence and implementation of targeted interventions are essential to prevent and control the expansion of overweight and obesity.

Summary

What is already known on this topic?

Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are crucial determinants of both physical and mental health outcomes. However, large-scale studies using objective measurements of these behaviors have not been widely implemented across China.

What is added by this report?

Based on World Health Organization guidelines, 56.8% of participants met the recommendation for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by accumulating more than 150 minutes per week. Additionally, 37.3% adhered to the SB guideline of less than 8 hours per day. However, only 2.7% of adults achieved compliance with both MVPA and SB recommendations simultaneously.

What are the implications for public health practice?

This study provides novel insights into PA levels and SB patterns among Chinese adults using waist-mounted accelerometry. The observed trends of insufficient PA and excessive SB in this multi-provincial sample emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary time to foster healthier lifestyle behaviors.

4.11 Tables, Figures, and Text Boxes

4.11.1 Table

• Create tables in MS Word or Excel.

• Submit each table as a separate file; do not embed tables in the report text file.

• Table titles should be descriptive and complete, including the who, what, where, and when of the data being presented, so that a reader can understand what the data represent without reading the text.

• 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).

• Confidence intervals should be reported as a range within parentheses [e.g., (200–400)]. Do not report as a numeral followed by a ± symbol (e.g., 300±100)

• Numbers and related percentages or confidence intervals should be placed in the same cell, not in separate columns.

• Footnote symbols should be placed sequentially in the table, beginning with the title and then moving • from left to right, row by row in the table. Use the following footnote symbols in order of appearance: *, †, §, ¶, **, ††, §§, ¶¶, etc. The * symbol is not superscripted; all other symbols are superscripted.

• Footnote callouts may be used more than once in a table.

• Table footnotes do not count against the footnote limits for the text of the report.

• Authors can review tables in recent (current or past year) online reports for style.

• For tables listing epidemiological data by geographic division (e.g., provincial-level administrative divisions; PLADs), Weekly prefers to publish table data sorted by performance.

4.11.2 Figures

Submit each figure as a separate file; do not embed figures in the report text file.

Figure titles should be descriptive and complete, including the who, what, where, and when of the data being presented, so that a reader can understand what the data represent without reading the text.

4.11.2.1 Types of Figures

• Diagrams and medical illustrations

• Charts and graphs

• Maps

• Photographic images      

4.11.2.2 Figure Instructions

• All figures except photos should be created in  (not pasted into) Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, Excel or other text editable vector format files (in the case of maps)  and submitted in vector format files such as .ai, .eps, and .wmf.

• Photos should be submitted as high-resolution raster image format files such as .tif or .jpg.

• Do not submit a figure with more than four panels. Panels in multipanel figures should be related to each other, subtitles should be pared to each panel.

• Place key or legend within figure whenever possible.

• Footnote symbols should be placed in the title, not within the figure. Use the following footnote symbols in order of appearance: *, †, §, ¶, **, ††, §§, ¶¶, etc. The * symbol is not superscripted; all other symbols are superscripted.

• Figure footnotes do not count against the footnote limits for the text of the report. Charts, Graphics, and Maps

• Bar and line graphs should have linked, underlying data tables.

• Files created by vector programs are best for accurately plotting and maintaining data points. Weekly is unable to use file formats native to statistical software applications to prepare figures for publication; most statistical software programs allow users to save or export files in digital vector formats.

• Acceptable file formats are Adobe Illustrator (.ai), .eps, PowerPoint (.ppt), Excel (.xls), .wmf, Word (.docx editable not pasted into), .svg, and .pdf.

• Place keys/legends within the Figure.

• Do not use pie charts or 3D graphs

• Maps must have an approval number before publication. Please download the standard Chinese map from the following website: https://cloudcenter.tianditu.gov.cn/dataSource. Please prepare all materials as specified by the editorial office. Subsequently, the Weekly editorial office will manage the submission and review process on your behalf to obtain the necessary approval number.

• Images created digitally (by digital camera or electronically created illustrations) must meet the minimum resolution requirements (≥300 ppi) at the time of creation. Electronically increasing the resolution of an image after creation causes a breakdown of detail and will result in an unacceptable poor-quality image.

• Each component of a composite image must be uploaded separately at submission and individually meet the minimum resolution requirement.

• Color photographs should be submitted in RGB mode using profiles such as Adobe RGB or sRGB. Digital cameras capture images in RGB. Do not change any color settings once the file is on the computer.

• Black-and-white photographs (e.g., radiographs, ultrasound images, CT and MRI scans, and electron micrographs) may be submitted in either RGB or grayscale modes.

• Acceptable file formats are Photoshop .psd or .tif, and .jpg.

4.11.3 Text Boxes

Nonquantitative information unsuitable for tables or figures can be submitted as boxed text (typically a bulleted list). During review and production, editors will make a final determination on the format of the information.

5.0 Clearance, Submission, and Acceptance

5.1 Clearance

5.1.1 Clearance

According to publishing standard requirements of the Weekly, it is mandatory that manuscripts receive approval from the authors' affiliated institution before being submitted to ScholarOne-Weekly.

Having the English reviewed by native-English speakers is heavily recommended; failure to reach a certain language standard in English may result in delay of publication or, in severe cases, conditional or final rejection.

5.1.2 Peer-review

After 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, innovation, academic value, practicality, and compliance with standards., 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.

5.2 Submission

In accordance with ICMJE recommendations, authors must state if any artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted technologies (e.g., large language models, chatbots, or image creators)  were used in the development of their submitted work. In both the cover letter and submitted work, authors should describe their use of this technology. Authors should carefully review and edit the result, because AI can generate authoritative-sounding output that can be incorrect, incomplete, or biased. Authors should assert that there is no plagiarism in their paper, including in text and images produced by the AI. Humans must confirm that there is appropriate attribution of all quoted material, including full citations.

Contributors should submit their final, cleared report through the Weekly ScholarOne Manuscripts. In separate attachments, the author should send the following items:

• Evidence of clearance

• Conflict of Interest

• Funding Proof Document (if applicable)

• Ethical certification  (if applicable)

• The text（including title but not authors’ information）,title page, tables, figures, or text boxes, supplementary materials.

Unless Weekly has agreed to expedite publication, cleared Preplanned Studies should be submitted at least 5 weeks (35 calendar days) before the desired Friday issue date. Generally, Announcements and Notices to Readers should be submitted 14 calendar days before the desired Friday issue date. Submission deadlines for reports that Weekly has agreed to expedite are established on an individual basis.

5.3 Acceptance

All manuscript acceptances and publication are determined by the Weekly editor.

6.0 Scheduling and Editing

6.1 Scheduling

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.

6.2 Editing

After a report is accepted and scheduled, Weekly editors begin the final editing and production process, with responsibility of ensuring that reports conform to established editorial and Weekly style and format conventions. Changes made during this process might differ from edits and revisions made during the clearance, review, and acceptance processes and from previously published Weekly reports.

7.0 Submitting Supplementary Tables and Figures

Supplementary materials should be attached when submitting manuscript on Weekly ScholarOne, Authors can submit up to three supplementary tables and figures to Weekly with their report. Alternatively, Weekly editors can suggest that content submitted with the report is more appropriate as a supplementary table, figure, or text. No other type of supplementary material is accepted. Supplementary tables and figures are named inline in the report text; they are not cited in the references or footnotes sections.

8.0 Guidance for Correcting Post-Publication 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.

8.1 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.

8.2  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. Weekly follows recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors  and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). 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.

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. Weekly will follow National Library of Medicine guidance to ensure transparency and clarity for readers (https://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/policy/errata.html)

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. and Weekly will follow National Library of Medicine guidance to ensure transparency and clarity for readers.

Note: If pervasive errors have been identified, contact the Editorial Office at weekly@chinacdc.cn as soon as possible.

9.0  Other Editorial Policies

9.1 Advertising Policy.

The Weekly currently does not accept or display any advertising.

9.2 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.

9.3 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.

9.4 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.

10.0 Contact Information

E-mail: weekly@chinacdc.cn

Telephone: +86-10-63150701

Mailing address: No.155 Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, China, 102206