GENEVA (NEWSnet/AP) — Officials in China say they did not detect “unusual or novel diseases” in the country, World Health Organization confirmed Thursday.
WHO cited unspecified media reports and a global infectious-disease monitoring service as reporting clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in China and formally requested details from China earlier this week.
Outside scientists said the situation warrants monitoring, but are not convinced the recent spike in respiratory illness in China signals the start of a global outbreak.
Emergence of new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics typically begins with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. SARS and COVID-19 initially were reported as unusual types of pneumonia.
On Nov. 13, China’s National Health Commission reported an increase in respiratory disease. The agency said it was due to the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
WHO said media reports confirmed clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in China. The agency held a teleconference with Chinese health officials on Thursday, and data it requested were provided. Results showed an increase in hospital admissions of children due to diseases including bacterial infection, RSV, influenza and common cold since October.
“No changes in the disease presentation were reported by the Chinese health authorities,” WHO said. It added that officials in China said the spike in patients has not overloaded the country's hospitals.
Dr. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at Britain's University of East Anglia, doubted the wave of infections was sparked by a new disease.
“If it was (a new disease), I would expect to see many more infections in adults,” he said. “The few infections reported in adults suggest existing immunity from a prior exposure.”
WHO said northern China has reported a jump in influenza-type illness since mid-October compared to the previous three years. It is rare for the U.N. health agency to ask publicly for detailed information from countries. Such requests typically are made internally. WHO said it requested further data from China via an international legal mechanism.
WHO said there is too little information to assess the risk of respiratory illness in children.
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