To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of public health emergencies in Yunnan Province’s border areas in recent years, providing a scientific basis for effective prevention and control measures.

Data on public health emergencies reported in 25 border counties (cities) of Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2022 were collected through the “China Disease Prevention and Control Information System-Public Health Emergency Reporting Management System”. Descriptive epidemiological methods were employed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics.

From 2012 to 2022, a total of 452 public health emergencies were reported in Yunnan Province’s border areas, with 31 020 cases and 110 deaths, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 0.94% and a case fatality rate of 0.35%. The primary types of events were infectious disease outbreaks (75.2%) and food poisoning (22.1%). The peak periods for infectious disease outbreaks were June and November, while food poisoning peaked from May to July. The leading causes of events were chickenpox (21.0%), COVID-19 (17.7%), and wild mushroom poisoning (9.5%), with wild mushroom poisoning accounting for the most deaths (53 cases, 48.2%). Schools (47.7%) and communities/villages (27.7%) were the main locations for infectious disease outbreaks. Dehong Prefecture reported 192 events, constituting 42.7% of the total, with 13 644 cases, representing 44.0% of the total cases. Twelve (48.0%) border counties (cities) reported 16 public health emergencies caused by imported infectious diseases, primarily from Myanmar (93.7%) and Laos (6.3%). Main diseases included dengue fever (31.3%), COVID-19 (31.3%), and chikungunya (18.8%), with a peak period for imported infectious disease-related events from July to September.

The reported public health emergencies in Yunnan Province’s border areas are mainly due to infectious disease outbreaks and food poisoning, with peak seasons in summer and winter. Major causes include chickenpox, COVID-19, and dengue fever, while the leading cause of death is wild mushroom poisoning. Schools and communities are critical locations for the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. It is recommended that border areas strengthen monitoring, early warning, and risk assessment for key diseases and vectors, with particular attention to cross-border disease prevention and control in regions adjacent to Myanmar.