China's health ministry is calling on local authorities to boost the number of fever clinics as the country faces a rise in respiratory illnesses during its first full winter since easing Covid-19 restrictions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) raised concerns last week, seeking more information from China following a report on undiagnosed pneumonia clusters in children by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases.
China and the WHO have faced questions about transparency in reporting since the early days of the pandemic that originated in Wuhan in late 2019. However, the WHO stated on Friday that no new or unusual pathogens were found in the recent illnesses.
National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng stated on Sunday that the increase in acute respiratory illnesses is linked to the simultaneous circulation of various pathogens, primarily influenza. Mi emphasized the need to expand the number of clinics, extend service hours, and ensure an ample supply of medications to address the surge.
Efforts to control the epidemic are crucial in crowded places such as schools, childcare institutions, and nursing homes, Mi added. Particularly in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning province, there's a notable increase in cases among children, leading to long waits in hospitals.
The State Council, China's cabinet, warned on Friday that influenza would peak during this winter and spring, while mycoplasma pneumoniae infection would remain high in certain areas. Additionally, the council cautioned about the risk of a rebound in Covid infections.
To ensure timely and accurate information reporting, the State Council called for strengthened measures across all localities. The WHO, on Thursday, suggested that the recent cases were linked to the lifting of Covid restrictions 11 months ago, combined with the circulation of known pathogens like mycoplasma pneumoniae is a usual bacterial infection that often impacts children and has been spreading since May.
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