The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked China for more detailed information after reports of an increase in respiratory illness and clusters of pneumonia in children.
Chinese authorities said they were seeing a rise in respiratory diseases at a press conference earlier this month, which they attributed to lifting of Covid-19 restrictions as well as circulation of influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as well as Covid-19 itself.
On 21 November, ProMED – a disease surveillance system which is part of the International Society for Infectious Diseases – reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China that was overwhelming paediatric hospitals with some schools on the verge of being closed.
Local media have posted videos on social media of hospitals crowded with patients waiting to be seen.
WHO said it was unclear if these reports were linked to the overall increase in respiratory illness that had already been reported by officials or a separate event.
As such they have now requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children. It also said it is in contact with clinicians and scientists through its networks.
In a statement, WHO also said it had requested ‘further information about recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the current burden on health care systems’.
Until more is known WHO has urged people in China to take precautions to reduce transmission including having recommended vaccinations, staying home when ill and wearing a mask when appropriate.
UKHSA said it is ‘closely monitoring the situation and will respond as more information becomes available’.
Professor Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of UKHSA, said: ‘The World Health Organization has received an official response from China following its request for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children.
‘We need to keep an open mind about the cause of any increased reporting of clusters of disease including of this illness in Chinese children.
‘UKHSA is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to work with international partners to assess the emerging information as it becomes available.’
Professor David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said it was important to consider that there is likely a background of seasonal respiratory infections with the challenge being to discern the outbreaks and determine the cause.
‘There are many different known viruses that could be the cause and these must all be sought in testing. At the same time isolation and sequencing will also provide answers.’
Professor Francois Balloux, professor of computational systems biology and director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said China was likely experiencing the first major wave of childhood respiratory illnesses after lockdowns.
‘Other countries, including the UK, experienced big waves of respiratory infections and hospitalisations in kids during their first winter after pandemic restrictions had been lifted.
‘Since China experienced a far longer and harsher lockdown than essentially any other country on earth, it was anticipated that those “lockdown exit” waves could be substantial in China.’
I feel so sorry for China. They tried their best, but the western world, (led by UK and USA) was intent on propagating Covid as much as possible, so they could profit from it, with the inevitable results.
And it is all our fault for voting for this dumb corrupt government.