Types of Articles
The Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal publishes several categories of articles, which are detailed below. Please see Instructions on how to prepare your manuscript for publication prior to submitting your manuscript.
Perspectives
Articles should not exceed 3,500 words in the main body of the text or include more than 50 references. Use of subheadings in the main body of the text is recommended. Photographs and illustrations are encouraged. Provide a short abstract (not to exceed 150 words), a 1-sentence summary of the conclusions, and a brief biographical sketch of first author or of both authors if only 2 authors. Articles in this section should provide insightful analysis and commentary about new and reemerging infectious diseases and related issues. Perspectives may also address factors known to influence the emergence of diseases, including microbial adaptation and change, human demographics and behavior, technology and industry, economic development and land use, international travel and commerce, and the breakdown of public health measures. If detailed methods are included, a separate section on experimental procedures should immediately follow the body of the text.
Synopses
Articles should not exceed 3,500 words in the main body of the text or include more than 50 references. Use of subheadings in the main body of the text is recommended. Photographs and illustrations are encouraged. Provide a short abstract (not to exceed 150 words), a 1-line summary of the conclusions, and a brief biographical sketch of first author or of both authors if only 2 authors. This section comprises case series papers and concise reviews of infectious diseases or closely related topics. Preference is given to reviews of new and emerging diseases; however, timely updates of other diseases or topics are also welcome. If detailed methods are included, a separate section on experimental procedures should immediately follow the body of the text.
Research
Articles should not exceed 3,500 words in the main body of the text or include more than 50 references. Use of subheadings in the main body of the text is recommended (e.g., "Materials and Methods," "Results," and "Discussion"). Illustrations are encouraged. Provide a short abstract (not to exceed 150 words), a 1-sentence summary of the conclusions, and a brief biographical sketch of first author or of both authors if only 2 authors. Report laboratory and epidemiologic results within a public health perspective. Explain the value of the research in public health terms and place the findings in a larger perspective (i.e., “Here is what we found, and here is what the findings mean”).
Articles describing mathematical, economic, or statistical studies have some additional restrictions because readers of Emerging Infectious Diseases may not necessarily have extensive training in these areas. With the increase in submissions of these types of articles, we have developed the following editorial criteria to screen submitted papers.
Table. Editorial criteria for mathematical, economic, and statistical papers |
|
Criterion |
|
Overall content |
|
Writing style |
|
Technical aspects |
|
|
*Public health officials have to be practical. Purely conceptual modeling papers, for example, are unlikely to be of immediate and practical value to our intended audience. |
Policy and Historical Reviews
Articles should not exceed 3,500 words in the main body of the text or include more than 50 references. Use of subheadings in the main body of the text is recommended. Photographs and illustrations are encouraged. Provide a short abstract (not to exceed 150 words), a 1-line summary of the conclusions, and a brief biographical sketch of first author— or of both authors if only 2 authors. Articles in this section include public health policy discussions or historical reports based on research and analysis of emerging disease issues.
Dispatches
Articles should not exceed 1,200 words in the main body of the text and need not be divided into sections. If subheadings are used, they should be general (e.g., “The Study” and “Conclusions”) may help orient the reader and are encouraged. Provide a brief abstract (not to exceed 50 words), references (not to exceed 15), figures or illustrations (no more than 2), tables (not to exceed 2), and a brief biographical sketch of first author or of both authors if only 2 authors. Dispatches are updates on infectious disease trends and research. The articles include descriptions of new methods for detecting, characterizing, or subtyping new or reemerging pathogens. Developments in antimicrobial drugs, vaccines, or infectious disease prevention or elimination programs are appropriate. Case reports are also welcome.
Correspondence
Research Letters Reporting Cases, Outbreaks, or Original Research
EID publishes letters that report cases, outbreaks, or original research as Research Letters. Authors should provide a short abstract (50-word maximum), references (not to exceed 10), and a short biographical sketch. These letters should not exceed 800 words in the main body of the text and may include either 1 figure or 1 table. Do not divide Research Letters into sections.
Letters Commenting on Articles
Letters commenting on articles should contain a maximum of 300 words and 5 references; they are more likely to be published if submitted within 4 weeks of the original article’s publication. No biographical sketch is needed.
Commentaries
Thoughtful discussions (500–1,000 words) of current topics. Commentaries may contain references but no abstract, figures, or tables. Include a brief biographical sketch of the first author or of both authors if only 2 authors. Commentaries are typically invited by the editorial board and address current journal content.
Another Dimension
Thoughtful essays, short stories, or poems on philosophical issues related to science, medical practice, and human health. They should not exceed 3,500 words in the main body of the text and should include references, if necessary. Topics may include science and the human condition, the unanticipated side of epidemic investigations, or how people perceive and cope with infection and illness. This section is intended to invoke compassion for human suffering and to expand the science reader’s literary scope. Manuscripts are selected for publication as much for their content (the experiences they describe) as for their literary merit. Include biographical sketch or the first author or of both authors if only 2 authors.
Books, Other Media Reviews
Reviews (250–500 words) of recently published books or other media on emerging disease issues are welcome. Title, author(s), publisher, number of pages, and other pertinent details should be included, as well as price and ISBN number (when applicable).
Conference Summaries
Summaries of emerging infectious disease conference activities (500–1,000 words) are published online only. They should be submitted no later than 6 months after the conference and focus on content rather than process. Provide illustrations, references, and links to full reports of conference activities.
Online Reports
Reports may be published online only on consensus group meetings, workshops, and other activities in which suggestions for diagnostic, treatment, or reporting methods related to infectious disease topics are formulated. These should not exceed 3,500 words and should be authored by the group. EID journal does not publish official guidelines or policy recommendations. Submit an abstract (100 words), which will be published in print as well as online.
Photo Quiz
The photo quiz (1,200 words) highlights a person who made notable contributions to public health and medicine. Provide a photo of the subject, a brief clue to the person’s identity, and 5 possible answers, followed by an essay describing the person’s life and his or her significance to public health, science, and infectious disease.
Etymologia
We welcome thoroughly researched derivations of emerging disease terms. Historical and other context could be included. Submissions are limited to 100 words and 5 references.
Announcements
Submit announcements to eideditor@cdc.gov. In 50–150 words, describe timely events of interest to our readers. Include the date of the event, the location, the sponsoring organization(s), and a website that readers may visit or a telephone number or email address that readers may contact for more information. Announcements may be posted on the journal website only, depending on the event date.
Table. Summary of EID article types and requirements*
Article type |
Word limit (main body of text) |
Word limit (abstract) |
References limit |
Figures and tables |
Perspective |
3,500 |
150 |
50 |
As appropriate |
Synopsis |
3,500 |
150 |
50 |
As appropriate |
Research |
3,500 |
150 |
50 |
As appropriate |
Policy and historical reviews |
3,500 |
150 |
50 |
As appropriate |
Dispatch |
1,200 |
50 |
15 |
2 figures and 2 tables |
Photo quiz |
1,200 |
NA |
15 |
1 |
Commentary |
1,000 |
NA |
15 |
0 |
Another Dimension |
3,500 |
NA |
40 |
As appropriate |
Letter (comment on article) |
300 |
NA |
5 |
0 |
Letters reporting cases, outbreaks, or original research |
800 |
50 |
10 |
1 figure or 1 table |
Book or other media review |
500 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
Etymologia |
100 |
NA |
5 |
0 |
Announcements |
150 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
Conference summaries |
1,000 |
NA |
As appropriate |
As appropriate |
Online reports on consensus group meetings and workshops |
3,500 |
100 |
As appropriate |
As appropriate |
*NA, not applicable. |
- Page created: September 06, 2011
- Page last updated: January 31, 2018
- Page last reviewed: January 31, 2018
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
-
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
Office of the Director (OD)