It is not clear whether the recent increase in the number of pneumonias among children in the Netherlands is related to an outbreak of respiratory infections in children in China. “It’s impossible to say yet. We do not know. But we do not assume so,” the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said.
According to the institute, it is expected that more people will contract a respiratory infection at this time of year.
The Nivel research institute keeps track of the number of pneumonias. For every 100,000 children aged 5 to 14, 103 had pneumonia last week. That is almost twice as many as at the highest point last year. The number of pneumonias is also increasing in children up to 4 years old.
Lifting corona measures
Many children in China have also suffered from pneumonia in recent weeks. According to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), these are known sources of infection and the outbreak is probably related to the lifting of corona measures in the country last year. China is now entering its first full winter without strict quarantine measures and lockdowns.
The RIVM says it is monitoring the outbreak in China through the WHO and the European health service ECDC. (AP)
2023-11-26 07:27:40
#RIVM #link #peak #pneumonia #outbreak #China #unclear #Skipr
