Share this @internewscast.com

BEIJING — A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country’s health ministry said Sunday.

Recent clusters of respiratory infections are caused by an overlap of common viruses such as the influenza virus, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, the adenovirus as well as bacteria such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is a common culprit for respiratory tract infections, a National Health Commission spokesperson said.

The ministry called on local authorities to open more fever clinics and promote vaccinations among children and the elderly as the country grapples with a wave of respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since the removal of Covid-19 restrictions.

“Efforts should be made to increase the opening of relevant clinics and treatment areas, extend service hours and increase the supply of medicines,” said ministry spokesman Mi Feng.

He advised people to wear masks and called on local authorities to focus on preventing the spread of illnesses in crowded places such as schools and nursing homes.

Last week the WHO formally requested that China provide information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children, as mentioned by several media reports and a global infectious disease monitoring service.

The emergence of new flu strains or other viruses capable of setting off pandemics typically starts with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. Both SARS and Covid-19 were first reported as unusual types of pneumonia.

Chinese authorities had blamed the increase in respiratory diseases on the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Other countries also saw a jump in respiratory diseases such as RSV when pandemic restrictions ended.

The WHO said Chinese health officials provided the data it requested during a teleconference on Thursday. Those showed an increase in hospital admissions of children due to diseases including bacterial infection, RSV, influenza and common cold viruses since October.

Chinese officials maintained that the spike in patients had not overloaded the country’s hospitals, according to the WHO.

It is rare for the U.N. health agency to publicly ask for more detailed information from countries, as such requests are typically made internally. The WHO said it requested further data from China via an international legal mechanism.

According to internal accounts in China, the outbreaks have swamped some hospitals in northern China, including in Beijing, and health authorities have asked the public to take children with less severe symptoms to clinics and other facilities.

The WHO said that there was too little information at the moment to properly assess the risk of these reported cases of respiratory illness in children.

Both Chinese authorities and the WHO have been accused of a lack of transparency in their initial reports on the Covid-19 pandemic, which started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Cancer survivor reveals fitness trick as he swims 10K across Long Island Sound

Cancer survivor shares fitness secret after completing 10K swim across Long Island Sound

The Long Island Sound stretches a whopping 110 miles, from New York…
'Misconduct': AG Bondi Files Official Complaint Against Anti-Trump Judge Boasberg

Attorney General Bondi Accuses Anti-Trump Judge Boasberg of Misconduct with Formal Complaint

Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, has reached a decision. On Monday, the…
Cincinnati mayoral candidate, VP Vance's half-brother, slams city leadership after brutal beatdown

Cincinnati Mayoral Contender, Half-brother of VP Vance, Criticizes City Officials Following Violent Assault

CINCINNATI – A contender for Cincinnati’s mayoral position criticized the city’s administration…
Jasmine Crockett Threw Tantrum Over Profile, Believed She Deserved Top Post Based on Social Media Clout

Jasmine Crockett’s Reaction to Profile Sparks Debate on Social Media Influence and Leadership Qualifications

Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) sought to cancel a profile article in The…
ICE arrests over 200 illegal alien child sex offenders in Houston area in past 6 months

ICE Apprehends Over 200 Child Sex Offenders in Houston Area in Last Six Months

More than 200 child sex offenders have been arrested by U.S. Immigration…
Ghislaine Maxwell's family insists she received unfair trial in Jeffrey Epstein case

Ghislaine Maxwell Appeals to Supreme Court to Dismiss Conviction, Citing Epstein’s Immunity Agreement

Ghislaine Maxwell, who was previously in a romantic relationship and accused of…
NYC shooting: What to know about Shane Tamura, gunman who killed 4 including NYPD cop in Midtown Manhattan

Insights on Shane Tamura: Gunman Behind the Tragic Midtown Manhattan Shooting that Claimed Four Lives, Including an NYPD Officer

A lone shooter entered an office building in Midtown Manhattan on Monday…
BREAKING: Leading Israeli Rights Groups Accuse Israel of Gaza Genocide

Israeli Human Rights Organizations Accuse Israel of Genocide in Gaza

Two of Israel’s most prominent human rights organizations, B’Tselem and Physicians for…
Watch: Trump Critics Can’t Even Spin Historic EU Trade Deal and It’s Hilarious

Watch: Trump’s Critics Struggle to Spin EU Trade Deal – It’s Quite Amusing

On Monday, the Trump 47 White House’s Official Rapid Response account posted…

Terrifying Incident: Passenger Falls from Edge of Infinity Pool on Royal Caribbean Cruise While Retrieving Glasses

THIS shocking incident occurred when a passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise…
'The Golden Girls' celebrates a milestone anniversary with fans across the country

Fans nationwide celebrate a significant anniversary of ‘The Golden Girls’

Happy 40th anniversary to “The Golden Girls.” The cherished comedy featuring Bea…
White Pura smart home fragrance diffuser.

Urgent Recall: Hazardous Product Sold at Walmart & Target Poses Severe Risk to Children

A PRODUCT sold at Target and Walmart has been recalled after posing…