The three networks framework to deal with public health emergencies in Guangxi, China.

Objective: To improve the detection and control of infectious diseases in Guangxi, China.

Setting/participants: Guangxi province in southwest China has almost 50 million people, of whom approximately 30% reside in urban and 70% in rural areas. There are 12 minority nationality groups living in the region.

Intervention: A village doctor reports any infectious disease outbreak to the Reporting Network, which notifies the Service Network to organize the clinical response. This is supported by the Government Network that coordinates the response among the multiple layers of local governments.

Outcomes: Since 2002 when the Three Networks system was first started, the time from incidence to report has been shortened on average from 30.6 to 7.6 days and the number of cases has increased from slightly less than 5000 cases/year (4965) to almost 10,000 cases/year (9873). Average mortality has decreased from 3.23% to 0.74%. The Three Networks system has been successful in controlling measles outbreaks; and during SARS, when 11 cases came to Guangxi from the neighbouring Guangdong province, there were only 11 additional new cases with no community spread and no spread to medical staff.

Conclusion: The Three Networks system has played an important role in infectious disease prevention and control in Guangxi province, and may be applicable to other areas with a similar situation.