China: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Beijing to provide more information on an outbreak of pneumonia in northern China, which is mostly affecting children.
“The WHO made an official request for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children,” the United Nations health agency said in a statement.
According to reports, China witnessed an increase in cases of influenza-like illnesses compared with the same period in the previous three years, when strict measures were followed as part of the zero-COVID strategy. That policy was abruptly abandoned in December 2022.
The WHO noted that “China’s National Health Commission told a press conference earlier this month that there had been an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases, attributing them to the lifting of COVID-19 measures and the spread not only of COVID-19 but pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection that typically affects younger children), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).”
According to the statement, WHO also requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from the reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism.
“We have also requested further information about recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the current burden on health care systems. WHO is also in contact with clinicians and scientists through our existing technical partnerships and networks in China,” the UN agency further remarked.
Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, who is part of the WHO’s emergency program, posted on X that the illness “could be anything. We need more information about symptoms, epidemiology, and what has been tested.”
The UN health agency further urged people in China to take steps to reduce the risk of contracting a respiratory infection, including updating vaccinations, maintaining a distance from other people, wearing masks when necessary, and staying at home when sick.
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