The rise in respiratory illnesses in China, along with clusters of pneumonia in children, is due to a new virus, Chinese and World Health Organization officials said.
Recently, the WHO officially asked China to provide more data on potential respiratory disease concerns across the country, submitting a report on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in young people through the Emerging Disease Surveillance Program.
New strains of influenza or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics regularly appear as clusters of undiagnosed respiratory illnesses. COVID-19 and SARS were first reported as types of pneumonia.
The Chinese government and the WHO have been accused of a lack of transparency in their initial reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.
Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of the WHO’s Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, said no new or rare pathogens had been reported in recent illnesses. He said the recent cases appear to be due to an increase in the number of young people contracting pathogens. The first full winter in China since COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
“It’s the same scenario we were in December 2019 and January 2020,” he told fitness news outlet STAT in an interview Friday.
He said the Chinese government had reported undiagnosed pneumonia outbreaks, but had provided information on apparent case rates of influenza and other viruses.
“This is an indication of a new pathogen. This is normal. That’s what most countries faced a year or two ago,” he said.
“We asked for comparisons before the pandemic. And in the waves you’re seeing now, the peak is rarely as high as what you saw in 2018-2019. “
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Health said Sunday that recent acute respiratory illnesses are related to the simultaneous flow of several common pathogens, such as influenza virus, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, adenovirus, as well as bacteria. like like Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
The ministry called on local authorities to open more clinics and promote vaccinations among children and the elderly.
“Efforts should be made to increase the number of clinics and treatment spaces involved, adequately extend opening hours, and strengthen guarantees of supply of medicines,” said the spokesperson for the National Medicines Commission. health care, Mi Feng, at a press conference, Reuters reported.
“There is a need to do smart work to prevent and control the epidemic in the most frequented places, such as schools, nurseries and nursing homes, and reduce the number of people and visitors. “
When approached for comment, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization directed Newsweek to the agency’s latest statement on its website.
“In the current outbreak of respiratory diseases, the reported symptoms are not unusual for several respiratory diseases, and currently, Chinese hospital and surveillance systems are reporting that the clinical manifestations are caused by known circulating pathogens,” the WHO said.
“There is little detailed data to fully characterize the overall threat of reported cases of respiratory illness in children. However, due to the arrival of the winter season, an increasing trend of respiratory diseases is expected; The cocirculation of respiration Viruses can increase the burden in fitness centers.
The WHO said it recommends Chinese people “follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory diseases, including vaccination; keeping others with health problems at a distance; staying home when in poor health; Ensure smart ventilation and normal hand washing.
Khaleda Rahman is the senior journalist at Newsweek founded in London, United Kingdom. She focuses on abortion rights, race, education, sexual abuse, and capital punishment. Khaleda joined Newsweek in 2019 and previously worked at MailOnline in London, New York and Sydney. She is a graduate of University College London. Languages: English.
You can contact Khaleda by emailing k. rahman@newsweek. com