The World Health Organization (WHO) requested detailed information from China about a surge in pneumonia cases among children in the northern regions of the country.
The request sought comprehensive epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data in response to the unexplained clusters of pneumonia cases that emerged earlier this week.
While such requests from the WHO are standard, the public nature of this appeal is unusual, highlighting the agency’s concerns about transparency in China’s public health reporting.
These concerns are not unfounded, given the country’s history of limited data sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic. A global health official based in Beijing emphasized the WHO’s ongoing worries about transparency and effective communication of health data, noting that the request also serves to pressure the concerned nation to cooperate.
The WHO received a prompt response from China, providing detailed information about the recent surge.
Chinese health authorities and state media acknowledged a rise in bacterial pneumonia and other flu-like diseases, mainly affecting children. This increase is partly attributed to the recent relaxation of China’s stringent COVID-19 measures, which had previously helped control the spread of other respiratory illnesses.
Tong Zhaohui, Director of the Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine, remarked in a press conference that diseases like mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterial infection common in children, are returning to their pre-pandemic patterns.
Zhaohui urged the public to adopt personal protection measures as a preventive strategy against these infections.
Chinese officials have acknowledged the overwhelming patient load in children’s hospitals, leading to extended waiting times and heightened risk of cross-infection. They advised parents of mildly symptomatic children to consult local doctors before heading to larger hospitals.
In Beijing, some schools have suspended classes with high infection rates.
Earlier in January, the WHO called on the Chinese government for more reliable and accurate data on hospitalizations and deaths during the nation’s COVID outbreak. The organization has also requested a broader disclosure of information on other prevalent respiratory diseases, including influenza and COVID-19.