11/30/2023 9:22 pm (current 11/30/2023 9:22 pm)
Hospitals are overcrowded. ©Portal; SHOVEL
A respiratory disease is currently spreading among children in China and hospitals are completely overwhelmed.
The Chinese Ministry of Health calls on local authorities to create more hospitals to treat the respiratory diseases currently circulating. These have increased significantly in China in recent weeks and have already drawn the country’s attention to the World Health Organization, which had requested more information on the matter. According to the WHO, however, China has not discovered any new or unusual pathogens.
First winter after the abolition of strict Corona protection measures
In China, it is the first full winter after the abolition of strict corona protection measures. National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng said at a press conference on Sunday that the increase in respiratory illnesses was caused by various pathogens, particularly the flu virus. The number of corresponding clinics and treatment centers should be increased and opening hours extended. The supply of medicines must be guaranteed. Furthermore, good prevention and control work must be done in schools, kindergartens and nursing homes. Infections have recently risen sharply, especially among children in northern China. Hospitals have warned about long waiting times.
After WHO request, China guarantees: There is no new virus
The Chinese Ministry of Health has assured that the increase in respiratory diseases in the country is not caused by a new virus. The recent cluster of such infections is caused by well-known diseases such as influenza virus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus and bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, said ministry spokesperson Mi Feng.