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A Chinese child wearing a mask: apparently, cases of respiratory diseases are increasing in China

Photo: Mark R. Christino / EPA

The World Health Organization (WHO) has demanded information from China on the increased incidence of pneumonia in children in northern China. The country should provide additional information about the diseases and their spread as well as laboratory results, the WHO said in a statement on Thursday night.

On November 13, Chinese authorities held a press conference in which they reported an increase in respiratory infections in the People's Republic. Media had also reported an accumulation of undiagnosed pneumonia among children in the region. According to the WHO, it is still unclear whether this is related to the general increase in respiratory diseases – such as corona and influenza – in China.

The situation is inevitably reminiscent of the turn of the year 2019/2020, when cases of a mysterious lung disease from China had become known. These eventually evolved into the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, China was accused of not being transparent enough about the first Covid-19 cases that appeared in the city of Wuhan.

WHO urges China to curb respiratory infections

"We have also asked for more information on recent trends in the spread of known pathogens such as influenza, Sars-CoV-2, RSV and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, as well as the current burden on health systems," the WHO said on X, formerly Twitter. Since mid-October, an increase in flu-like illnesses has been reported from northern China compared to the same period in the past three years.

The National Health Commission of China attributes the increase in such diseases in the country to the spread of the pathogens after the lifting of corona measures. In other countries, such as Germany, there had also been particularly strong waves of colds.

The WHO called for people in China to follow measures that prevent respiratory infections. Among other things, she mentioned taking advantage of vaccinations, keeping your distance from the sick, staying at home if you have symptoms of illness, wearing masks and washing your hands regularly.

kry/dpa/AFP