The World Health Organization expressed concern on Wednesday about an increase in respiratory diseases in China and asked the population “to take protective measures”.
“WHO has made an official request to #China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia outbreaks reported in children,” said the statement published on X (formerly Twitter) whose authenticity was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the organization, who recommends following “measures aimed at reducing the risk of respiratory disease. »
These measures – already hammered out during the Covid-19 pandemic – include vaccination, distancing from sick people, staying at home in the event of symptoms, tests and treatment if necessary as well as wearing a mask if appropriate, good ventilation premises and hand washing.
Request for “additional information”
After Chinese authorities and Chinese media reported a rise in respiratory illnesses, including outbreaks of undiagnosed pneumonia among children in northern China, the WHO on November 22 called for ” additional epidemiological and clinical information, as well as laboratory findings on these reported outbreaks in children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism.”
The organization “also requested additional information on recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19), RSV which affects infants and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, as well as on the degree of congestion in the health systems,” the press release further specifies.
WHO is connecting with clinicians and scientists through our existing technical partnerships and networks in China.
Lifting of Covid restrictions
The UN organization indicated that Chinese authorities attributed this increase in respiratory illnesses to the lifting of restrictions linked to Covid-19 and the circulation of known pathogens.
During a press briefing on November 13, they stressed the need to improve disease surveillance in health establishments and community settings, as well as to strengthen the capacity of the health system to care for patients, recalls the WHO.
The Organization gave no indication of China’s response to the request for information.
The WHO has repeatedly criticized the Chinese authorities for their lack of transparency and cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, the first cases of which appeared in China at the end of 2019.
This lack of cooperation was also denounced by the WHO and many other countries in the investigation carried out to determine the origins of the pandemic and which has still not led to a definitive conclusion.