The Asian country is recording an increase in respiratory infections, especially among children; The WHO says it has requested further information from Chinese authorities to find out whether the scenario is caused by known pathogens, which are growing in the country, or by a new event
A World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Wednesday evening, the 22nd, which monitors the increase in cases of a pneumonia without a defined cause which mainly affects children in China. In a note the organization specifies that it has “made an official request to China for detailed information on the increase in respiratory diseases and reports of ‘clusters’ of pneumonia in children.”
According to the WHO, the Chinese health authorities had reported, in a press conference held on the 13th, an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the Asian country. They justified that this growth was caused by the easing of Covid-19 restrictions and the increase in the circulation of pathogens known as influence (due to the flu), mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection that primarily affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which often causes bronchiolitis in younger children, and SARS-CoV-2 itself.
However, between Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd, the press and an international disease surveillance network, ProMED (Emerging Disease Monitoring Program, in free translation), began reporting cases of clusters of patients hospitalized with an unknown type of pneumonia in northern China. Most patients are children. There is still no information on the number of infected people and whether there are any deaths.
“It is unclear whether these cases are associated with the general increase in respiratory infections previously reported by the Chinese authorities or whether they are separate events,” the WHO underlined in the note released this evening.
One of the reports entered into the ProMED system contains information from the Chinese press vehicle FTVNews, which reports hospitals full of children with fever – some have lung nodules. The report says that some schools have suspended lessons and that there are cases of infections even among teachers. The vehicle reports an overload in hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning. Although both cities are located in the northern part of China, they are about 800 kilometers away from each other, which shows that the infections are not concentrated in just one province.
Experts do not exclude that the outbreaks could be caused by already known pathogens and that children become infected more easily because this is the first Chinese autumn/winter without restrictions linked to Covid-19 (the Asian country has suspended its rigorous control of Covid-19 (pandemic in January this year).
In Brazil and other countries, unseasonal outbreaks of diseases such as bronchiolitis have occurred since the end of social isolation. The explanation is that, because children were not going to school or the youngest ones were not even attending school during the pandemic, the pathogens started circulating again and found individuals without previous or recent immunity.
Following reports in the press and in the ProMED system, WHO says it has requested further epidemiological and clinical information from the Chinese authorities, as well as laboratory results from these patient groups. “We are also asking for more information on recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and mycoplasma pneumoniaeand the current burden on China’s healthcare systems,” the entity said.
WHO statement on reported outbreaks of respiratory diseases in children in northern China
The WHO has made an official request #China for detailed information on the increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children.
In the press conference on the 13th… pic.twitter.com/Jq8TgZjWNX
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 22, 2023
The WHO says it is also in contact with doctors and scientists through networks and technical partnerships it maintains in the Asian country. The organization said the northern region has seen an increase in flu-like illnesses since mid-October.
“China has systems in place to capture information on trends in influenza, influenza-like illnesses, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 and reports to platforms such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System,” the WHO explains.
The entity emphasizes that, while seeking further information on the new epidemic of respiratory diseases, the recommendation is that people who are in China seek measures to reduce the risk of contaminationwhich includes taking the recommended vaccines (such as those against COVID-19 and influenza), remain in isolation in case of respiratory symptoms, keep a distance from sick people, carry out diagnostic tests and request medical assistance when necessary.
It is also recommended to wear masks, wash your hands regularly and ensure ventilation of the room. The WHO said it will continue to provide updates on the epidemiological scenario in China. OR Estadao He contacted the Ministry of Health on Wednesday evening, the 22nd, to find out if the department has any information on the situation in China or if it is carrying out any monitoring, but has not yet received a response.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
