SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China called for vigilance on Friday as respiratory illness hit schools and hospitals. The World Health Organization, which has asked the government for disease data, said no unusual or novel pathogens had been detected.
China is grappling with a spike in respiratory illnesses as it enters its first entire winter season since it lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in December, with cases among children appearing exceptionally high in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning province, where hospitals are warning of long waits.
The State Council said influenza would peak this winter and spring, and mycoplasma pneumonia infection would continue to be high in some areas. It also warned of the risk of a rebound in COVID-19 infections.
“All localities should strengthen information reporting on infectious diseases to ensure information is reported in a timely and accurate manner,” the State Council said.
The situation came into the spotlight this week when the WHO asked China for more information, citing a report by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children.
