The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking information from China regarding a surge in respiratory illnesses affecting children.
According to a news release from Thursday, Chinese health officials notified the WHO about an increase in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children earlier in the month.
Health officials have linked this surge to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the spread of known pathogens like influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19.
The news release mentioned mycoplasma pneumoniae as a common bacterial infection that mostly affects young children.
“On 22 November, WHO requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism,” the health agency stated in its news release. “We have also 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.”
China’s National Health Commission advised parents that children with mild symptoms should first visit primary health care institutions or general hospital pediatric departments to avoid crowded hospitals and long waiting times, as reported by The Associated Press.
According to Chinese state media, the average number of patients in the internal medicine department at Beijing Children’s Hospital exceeded 7,000 per day, surpassing the hospital’s capacity.
WHO also announced its intention to collaborate with clinicians and scientists in China through its existing technical partnerships and networks, while urging Chinese officials to implement measures to minimize the risk of respiratory illnesses.
“While WHO seeks this additional information, we recommend that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, which include recommended vaccination; keeping distance from people who are ill; staying home when ill; getting tested and medical care as needed; wearing masks as appropriate; ensuring good ventilation; and regular hand-washing,” the news release noted. “WHO will continue to provide updates.”
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