AFP | Paris, France
Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Cases of the respiratory disease are surging in northern China, especially among children, and speculation is rife online about the threat of a new pandemic, four years after the novel coronavirus first emerged in the country. ing.
But Chinese health authorities believe the rise in cases is a mixture of already known viruses and related to the first real cold spell since strict coronavirus restrictions were lifted in December last year. He said that
Experts say there is little to suggest the cases were caused by the new virus, although they stress the full story remains unclear.
Here’s what we know so far:
– Where and what? –
On November 13, China’s National Health Commission reported a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses, mainly among children.
Chinese authorities say the increase in infections is due to the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, the arrival of the cold season, and the spread of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2. It is said that this is due to It causes the new coronavirus.
On Monday, the official disease surveillance system Promed, which previously issued early warnings about mysterious pneumonia cases that turned out to be the new coronavirus, said some hospitals in China were warning “sick children” due to pneumonia outbreaks. “We are overwhelmed by the situation,” he said.
The outbreak is occurring primarily in the capital Beijing, but is also said to have spread to the northeastern Liaoning province and other parts of China.
Symptoms include fever, inflammation of the lungs without coughing, and pulmonary nodules (lumps in the lungs, usually as a result of a past infection). No deaths were reported.
Several parents told AFP at a Beijing children’s hospital on Thursday that their children had mycoplasma pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumonia is a common cause of pneumonia in children and is easily treated with antibiotics.
– What are China and the WHO saying? –
The report brought back memories of the pandemic, with social media users fearing a “new virus coming from China” or “new coronavirus.”
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization, which has repeatedly criticized the Chinese government for a lack of transparency throughout the coronavirus pandemic, requested more information from China about children suffering from “undiagnosed pneumonia.”
The Chinese government responded Thursday, saying “no unusual or novel pathogens have been detected,” according to a WHO statement.
WHO noted that China is closely monitoring trends in viruses such as influenza, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2, and requested further information.
China also began monitoring mycoplasma pneumonia for the first time in mid-October, the WHO added.
The WHO stated that “there is limited detailed information available to fully characterize the overall risk of reported pediatric respiratory disease cases.”
However, he added that an increase in such diseases is expected with the onset of winter.
– What do the experts think? –
Several experts have pointed out that the arrival of winter, the lifting of restrictions due to the new coronavirus infection, and the lack of prior immunization among children are likely behind the surge in infections.
François Ballou of University College London said, “China experienced a much longer and harsher lockdown than basically any other country on earth, so this wave of “lockdown lifting” is likely to be significant in China as well. It was expected that there would be a possibility that
Unless there is new evidence suggesting otherwise, “there is no reason to doubt the emergence of new pathogens,” he added.
Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia in the UK stressed that there is “too little information available to make a definitive diagnosis at this time.”
But, he added, “Overall, this does not seem like a new viral epidemic.”
“If that’s the case, we would expect to see more infections in adults. The small number of infections reported in adults suggests pre-existing immunity from previous exposure.”
“Young children attending schools in China spend half their lives without being exposed to common pathogens, so they don’t have the same level of immunity,” said Katherine Bennett of Australia’s Deakin University. did.
– Do you have any recommendations? –
WHO advised people in the affected areas to follow normal rules to avoid respiratory illnesses.
These include getting vaccinated, isolating if you develop symptoms, getting tested if necessary and wearing a mask.
Based on current information, WHO recommends against any travel restrictions involving China.