Application of WHO risk communication principle in management of first case of imported Middle East respiratory syndrome in China

Risk communication is an essential component of crisis emergency management and is one of the important part of the International Health Regulations,which has been identified as a core competence for guiding public health responses to infectious disease by World Health Organization (WHO).The principles of WHO risk communication include trust,announcing early,transparency,listening and planning.This paper analyzes the successful application of WHO risk communication principles in the management of first imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in China to provide evidences for the role of risk communication in public health emergency risk management.