PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (04): (BJ, LN) children, reported epidemic
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UNDIAGNOSED PNEUMONIA – CHINA (04): (BEIJING, LIAONING) CHILDREN,
REPORTED EPIDEMIC
A ProMED-mail post
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Source: BBC [edited] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67505218
China has reported no “unusual or novel pathogens” in clusters of
child pneumonia cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
Beijing has attributed a rise in flu-like illnesses to the lifting of
COVID-19 curbs, said the WHO, which had requested for more data on the
cases. Still it urged residents in China to take precautions, like
getting vaccinated and wearing masks. Local media had in recent days
reported hospitals being overwhelmed.
In a statement on Wednesday [22 Nov 2023], the WHO said it requested
China for more information on reports in the media and from ProMED —
a global outbreak surveillance system — of “clusters of undiagnosed
pneumonia in children in northern China.” Pneumonia is a general
medical term used to describe an infection and inflammation of the
lungs. It can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria or fungi.
After the WHO’s request, state-run Xinhua news agency published an
article which quoted officials of China’s National Health Commission
(NHC) as saying they were paying close attention to the diagnosis and
care of children with respiratory illnesses.
Later on Thursday [23 Nov 2023], the WHO said in a statement that
China has not detected any “unusual or novel pathogens,” and that the
increase in respiratory illnesses spreading in the north of the
country was due to “multiple known pathogens.” Since October 2023,
northern China has reported an “increase in influenza-like illness”
compared to the same period over the past 3 years, the WHO said. “Some
of these increases are earlier in the season than historically
experienced, but not unexpected given the lifting of COVID-19
restrictions, as similarly experienced in other countries,” the
statement said.
The WHO said it is “closely monitoring the situation and is in close
contact with national authorities in China”. While mentions of China
and a wave of infection can get people jittery as it brings memories
of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is good practice for the WHO to ask for
clarity.
It is also not unusual for the WHO to ask countries for more
information about a cluster of illnesses. They do so almost every day.
A specialist WHO team combs through thousands of media reports and
internal surveillance information on circulating diseases from
countries on a daily basis. Experts then decide whether they need more
information, in case it could have the potential to become a public
health emergency of international concern. But it is unusual to
announce the request for more information publicly. In general, this
has previously been done through private channels between the WHO and
health officials in a country.
The UN agency is no doubt mindful that people might be more jumpy
about viruses reported in China with the not so distant memory of
COVID-19. The WHO is also trying to be more transparent in the
aftermath of the pandemic.
The UK’s health security agency (UKHSA) said it was closely monitoring
the situation.
Last week, the Chinese NHC said there had been a rise in several
respiratory diseases across the country: in particular influenza,
COVID-19, Mycoplasma pneumoniae — a common bacterial infection
affecting younger children — and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Officials attributed the rise to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
Other countries, including the UK and the US, saw similar surges in
flu-like illnesses once pandemic restrictions were lifted.
“China is likely experiencing a major wave of childhood respiratory
infections now as this is the first winter after their lengthy
lockdown, which must have drastically reduced the circulation of
respiratory bugs, and hence decreased immunity to endemic bugs,” said
Prof Francois Balloux of the University College of London Genetics
Institute. Prof Paul Hunter, of the University of East Anglia (UEA),
said at present there was too little information to make a definitive
diagnosis of what was causing the infections.
He added: “Overall, this does not sound to me like an epidemic due to
a novel [new] virus. If it was, I would expect to see many more
infections in adults. The few infections reported in adults suggest
existing immunity from a prior exposure.”