WHO Requesting Information from China on Outbreak of Respiratory Disease in Children

AFPparents and their children waiting in line at a children’s hospital in Beijing

NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 11:46

The World Health Organization (WHO) wants clarification from China about a respiratory disease that is affecting a striking number of Chinese children. There has been an outbreak since mid-October, leaving Chinese hospitals full of sick children with pneumonia.

In the capital Beijing and Liaoning, hospitals are struggling to accommodate all the sick children. All children who arrive are infected with a so-called atypical pneumonia. It is striking that children hardly cough, but mainly develop a very high fever and have lung nodules. A large part must be recorded.

China held a press conference on November 13 and reported the increase in respiratory diseases. According to the authorities, the outbreak is due to the lifting of the corona measures and known pathogens such as the flu. It is not known whether it is actually a tail end of the corona pandemic.

In an official request, the WHO asks China to provide detailed information about the increase in respiratory diseases. This mainly concerns epidemiological and clinical information and laboratory results of the sick children. The WHO calls it ‘routine’ to request this information during outbreaks.

Images of parents sitting with their children in crowded hospital waiting rooms are circulating on social media. There are also photos of children doing their homework in the hospital while they are on an IV.

The WHO advises Chinese people to take measures such as vaccination, keeping a distance from sick people and wearing face masks.

In response to questions from NOS, the RIVM says that the WHO is leading. “It is now up to the WHO to find out. We follow what is happening through the WHO.”

2023-11-23 10:46:12
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