Three years ago, a respiratory illness emerged in Wuhan, China, marking the start of the COVID-19 virus that rapidly spread worldwide, leading to a pandemic responsible for claiming the lives of over six million people globally.
As COVID-19 exits the acute phase of the pandemic, new reports have surfaced that caught the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO), a specialised agency of the United Nations.
Recently, China has seen a surge in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia cases.
Health authorities hope the resurgence in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia cases doesn’t mirror the previous devastating experience.
The WHO has requested information from China regarding a surge in respiratory illnesses and documented pneumonia clusters in children.
According to Reuters, the WHO’s China office said this inquiry was a “routine” check.
On 13 November 2023, the Chinese authorities, represented by the National Health Commission, held a press conference to address the rise in cases of respiratory diseases.
Chinese authorities attributed this increase to the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens.
These pathogens include influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, a common bacterial infection that typically affects younger children, respiratory syncytial virus, and the virus responsible for COVID-19.
What is Pneumonia?
According to information from the National Institutes of Health, pneumonia is an infection that impacts one or both lungs. This condition leads to the filling of the air sacs, known as alveoli, within the lungs with fluid or pus.
Various agents, including bacteria, viruses, or fungi, can cause pneumonia.
The symptoms of pneumonia can vary in severity, ranging from mild to severe.
Common symptoms may encompass a cough, with or without mucus (a slimy substance), fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
The seriousness of pneumonia is contingent on factors such as age, overall health, and the specific causative agent of the disease.
China and the WHO Questioned on the Transparency of COVID-19 Data
If you were one of the kiasu people who checked on the news about the latest COVID-19 updates, you would’ve known that China and WHO got slammed for their lack of transparency in reporting the data.
China and the WHO have come under scrutiny regarding the transparency of their reporting on the initial COVID-19 cases that first surfaced in Wuhan in late 2019 and early 2020.
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As of 22 November 2023, the WHO disclosed that various groups, including the Programme for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, had identified clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia cases among children in northern China.
The WHO indicated that it remained uncertain whether these cases were linked to the broader surge in respiratory infections previously acknowledged by Chinese authorities or if they constituted distinct incidents.
The WHO further mentioned that it had requested additional epidemiological and clinical data, as well as laboratory findings related to these child pneumonia outbreaks, using the International Health Regulations framework.
It has also requested China to provide further details regarding trends in the prevalence of known pathogens and the current strain on healthcare systems.
The WHO China office stated that it is customary for member states, including China, to routinely share information regarding upticks in respiratory illnesses and instances of pediatric pneumonia.
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The decision to release a statement concerning China was made by the global agency due to the numerous inquiries received from the media.
According to an email statement from WHO China, the issue of undiagnosed pneumonia was not explicitly addressed during the previous week’s press conference, as indicated by the transcript.
However, one of the speakers did mention a general perception of an increase in respiratory illnesses in 2023 compared to the situation three years ago.
Reason for the Increase in Respiratory Illnesses and Pneumonia in China
The surge in respiratory illnesses in China coincides with the country’s preparation for its full winter season since the easing of stringent COVID-19 restrictions in December.
Many other nations also reportedly experienced comparable upswings in respiratory diseases following the relaxation of pandemic-related measures.
In recent days, media outlets in cities such as Xi’an in the northwest have shared videos depicting crowded hospitals with parents and children awaiting medical assessments.
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Some social media users have also shared images of children attending to their homework while receiving intravenous drips in the hospital.
Precautions and Safety Measures
The WHO emphasised that as it seeks additional information, it strongly recommends that individuals in China take measures to mitigate the risk of respiratory illnesses. These precautions include:
- Vaccination
- Maintaining a safe distance from individuals who are unwell
- Staying at home when feeling unwell
- Seeking testing and necessary medical attention
- Wearing masks as advised
- Ensuring proper ventilation
- Regularly practising hand hygiene
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