China Denies Existence of Unusual Virus in Rising Pneumonia Cases, says WHO
In response to the increasing cases of respiratory illnesses in children in northern China, China has stated that no unusual or new pathogens have been detected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has been closely monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems since mid-October 2023, which revealed a rise in respiratory illness among children in the region.
On Wednesday, the UN health agency officially requested Beijing for more detailed information regarding the situation. However, the Chinese government has not provided any public comment on the matter as of Thursday.
In a teleconference held on Thursday, the WHO discussed the issue with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Beijing Children’s Hospital, with the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention facilitating the conversation. The WHO stated that Chinese authorities confirmed the absence of any unusual or novel pathogens or clinical presentations, including in Beijing and Liaoning. They attributed the increase in respiratory illnesses to multiple known pathogens and assured that hospitals have not been overwhelmed by patient loads.
The WHO continues to closely monitor the situation and maintains close contact with national authorities in China. The organization will provide updates as necessary. In the meantime, the WHO recommends preventive measures such as vaccination against flu, Covid-19, and other respiratory pathogens, maintaining distance from sick individuals, staying home when ill, seeking medical care and testing when necessary, and wearing masks as appropriate.
The WHO also clarified that it does not recommend any specific measures for travelers to China. It is worth noting that next month marks the fourth anniversary of the initial report of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. Throughout the pandemic, the WHO has criticized Chinese authorities for their lack of transparency and cooperation. The origins of Covid-19 remain a topic of heated debate even after more than three years since the first cases were detected in Wuhan.
(Note: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff, except for the headline.)
