China has been asked to provide details on a rise in cases of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia among children amid reports that hospitals in cities such as Beijing and Liaoning are “overwhelmed with sick children”.
In a statement on Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had requested additional epidemiological and clinical information, as well as laboratory results, from reported outbreaks in children.
Representatives of the National Health Commission of China held a press conference on November 13, at which they reported an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the country, the WHO said in a statement.
“Since mid-October, northern China has reported an increase in the number of influenza-like illnesses compared to the same period last year,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, ProMed, which tracks global outbreaks, issued a statement about reports of childhood pneumonia in China.
telegraph Hospitals in the capital Beijing and Liaoning are struggling with an influx of children suffering from pneumonia, the latest report said.
“Many, many have been hospitalized,” Mr. Wei, a Beijing resident, told FTV News from Taiwan, the newspaper reported. “You are not coughing and you have no symptoms. They just have a high temperature (fever) and many develop nodules in their lungs.”
The WHO said Chinese authorities attributed the increase to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the spread of known pathogens such as influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus and the virus that causes COVID-19.
Chinese authorities have stressed the need to improve disease surveillance in medical and community settings, as well as strengthen the health system’s capacity to care for patients.
WHO said that as it gathers more information, it recommends that people in China take steps to reduce the risk of respiratory disease, including vaccination; Keep your distance from sick people. stay home when sick; get tested and receive medical care if necessary; wearing masks when necessary; provide good ventilation; and wash your hands regularly.
With agencies
Source: I News
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