2023-11-23 03:24:00
The World Health Organization (WHO)) expressed this Wednesday Concern over increase in respiratory diseases in China and asked the population to “take measures” for protection. The warning was given in the wake of a pneumonia outbreak that is spreading in schools in the Asian country, leaving in its wake numerous hospitalized children.
“The WHO addressed an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory diseases and pneumonia outbreaks in children“said the bulletin, which recommends taking “measures to reduce the risk of respiratory disease.” The letter also recalled that “in a press conference held on November 13, 2023, the Chinese authorities of the National Health Commission reported an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in China.
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In addition to this, during the last few hours the Chinese media reported on the increase in cases of respiratory diseases in minors. For its part, the Emerging Diseases Monitoring Program (ProMED) issued an alert on Tuesday night for the “Outbreaks of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China”a situation that “it is not clear whether they are related to the general increase in respiratory infections previously reported by the Chinese authorities, or whether they are independent episodes.”
For this reason, the WHO called for November 22 “additional epidemiological and clinical informationas well as laboratory results of the outbreaks detected in children.” The agency also requested “complementary information on recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, especially influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV that affects babies and of the micoplasma pneumoniaeas well as the degree of congestion in the health system,” the statement added.
The organization noted that Chinese authorities attribute this increase in respiratory diseases to lifting of anti-covid restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens“like the flu, the micoplasma pneumoniaerespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2″.
The measures proposed to China are similar to those applied during the Covid-19 pandemic: vaccination, keeping distance from the sick, staying home in case of symptoms, taking tests and wearing a mask if necessary, in addition to ventilating the premises well and washing hands well. “Authorities highlighted the need to improve disease surveillance in healthcare facilities and community settings, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the healthcare system to manage patients,” the statement reads.
Regarding the role of the WHO, the document indicated that the organization “is in contact with doctors and scientists through our existing associations and technical networks in China.” In that sense, they explained that since mid-October the north of the Asian giant “has reported an increase in flu-like illnesses compared to the same period of the three years previous”.
“China has systems in place to collect information on trends in influenza, influenza-like illnesses, RSV and SARS-CoV-2, and send reports to platforms such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System,” the entity assured. In this regard, they advanced that “WHO seeks this additional information”although he gave no indication regarding China’s response to the request for more information.
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“We recommend to the inhabitants of China that follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, which include recommended vaccinations; keep distance from sick people; stay home when sick; undergo testing and receive medical care as needed; wear masks as appropriate; ensure good ventilation; and wash your hands regularly,” the WHO stressed.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, whose first cases were detected in China at the end of 2019the WHO reproached Beijing on numerous occasions for lack of transparency and cooperation. Along these lines, said organization and different countries also denounced this lack of cooperation from the Asian country in the investigation to determine the origins of the pandemic, which has not yet reached definitive conclusions.
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As in the early days of Covid-19, The situation in the Asian giant is alarming. Children have unusual symptoms that include lung inflammation and high fever, but not cough or other symptoms usually associated with the flu, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses. Given the number of cases, ProMED established a large publicly available global surveillance system that monitors infectious diseases.
According to the report signed by ProMED press officer Dan Silver, there is “a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness “It is not entirely clear when this outbreak began, as it would be unusual for so many children to be affected so quickly,” he said.
The statement adds that, according to the studies carried out and the tests provided by the Asian giant, “no” affected adults were registered, “which suggests some exposure in schools”. For this reason, “ProMED awaits more definitive information on the etiology and extent of this worrying disease in China.”
In addition to this, Silver raised the alarm regarding a possible pandemic. While he stated that “it is too early” to project whether the situation might escalate and have a magnitude similar to that of Covid-19, he did not rule out that scenario. “The pandemic clock is ticking, we just don’t know what time it is”he concluded.
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One hypothesis maintains that the outbreak is related to “atypical pneumonia” or “walking pneumonia.”a respiratory disease caused by bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae which is reportedly growing in China as the country enters its first winter without strict Covid lockdowns. The condition usually attacks younger children and its symptoms include a sore throat, fatigue and cough that can last up to months.
It was called “walking pneumonia” because the symptoms are usually mild enough for patients to continue walking. However, different agencies reported last month that Hospitals across China were experiencing skyrocketing infections. A similar experience occurred in the United States and the United Kingdom, where increases in infections such as RSV and flu were also reported following pandemic rules were lifted.
MB / ED
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