WHO asks China for details on respiratory illness outbreaks
Since mid-October 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) has observed a rise in respiratory illnesses among children in northern China. In response to the surge, the WHO requested additional data from Beijing, pressing for details on the nature of the illnesses. However, as of Thursday, China asserted that no unusual or new pathogens were identified, attributing the increase to known respiratory diseases.
A teleconference was held between the WHO, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Beijing Children’s Hospital. The Chinese authorities assured that the elevated respiratory cases did not lead to hospitals exceeding their capacities. The WHO continues to closely monitor the situation, maintaining communication with national authorities in China.
In light of the situation, the WHO recommended preventative measures for the public, emphasizing vaccinations against flu and COVID-19, maintaining distance from the ill, staying home when sick, testing as needed, and appropriate mask usage. Notably, no specific travel measures to China were advised.
This development comes just ahead of the fourth anniversary of the initial report of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, with ongoing debates about its origin and the WHO’s previous criticisms of Chinese authorities for lack of transparency and cooperation during the pandemic
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