According to the World Health Organization (WHO), evidence shows that the respiratory outbreak in China is caused by several pathogens that are already known.
Mysterious Respiratory Outbreak in China
In mid-November, it was revealed that China was experiencing a mysterious respiratory outbreak. This raised concern that another COVID-like pandemic could surface.
These worries started when the National Health Commission of China announced on November 13 that an increase in respiratory infections was observed across the nation. This was mostly observed among children.
On November 21, several media outlets also reported several undiagnosed pneumonia cases among children in northern China, in Liaoning province and Beijing. Similar reports were also amplified by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED), which is a global network for monitoring diseases.
Because of this, WHO was prompted to investigate the situation further. The organization then confirmed on November 23 that the reported spike in hospitalizations and infections among children is due to several pathogens that are already known.
Not a New Virus
Such pathogens include influenza, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. M. pneumoniae can lead to bacterial pneumonia, while the others may result in viral pneumonia in serious cases.
Health authorities from China have also reported to WHO that no novel or unusual pathogens or clinical presentations have been detected. This means that the infection spike is caused by several culprits that are already known, rather than a mysterious and unknown bug.
Maria Van Kerkhove, who serves as the acting director of the department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at WHO, explains that this does not indicate a new pathogen and that this is actually expected.
Kerkhove adds that most countries dealt with this one to two years ago when they started lifting lockdown restrictions that were implemented during the early stages of the pandemic. The testing and quarantining policies in China were only loosened up in December 2022.
With the easing of pandemic restrictions, children have a higher likelihood of getting sick during the winter, as they were quite sheltered in the past. This also signifies that the immune systems of these children have not been exposed to several viruses that are common. Dr. Ben Marais, who serves as the director at the University of Sydney's Sydney Infectious Disease Institute, notes that because of this, the children were not able to get protective immunity against such viruses, which is something called an immune deficit.
Children also have higher likelihoods of getting infected by M. pneumoniae and developing severe RSV infections compared to adults. Moreover, respiratory infections typically spike during the winter.
Epidemiology professor Benjamin Cowling from the University of Hong Kong explains that this is a usual spike in respiratory infections that are acute. Cowling adds that the events are taking place quite earlier this year and that this is possible due to the heightened population susceptibility to such infections as a result of COVID measures that lasted for three years.
The WHO continues to closely monitor the infection outbreak in China. They are staying in contact with the health authorities. The organization also advises that those in China should follow protocols to reduce infection risk. These measures may include getting vaccinated, keeping a safe distance from those who are ill, and wearing face masks.
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