Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission have
reported an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in
China. This increase has been attributed to the lifting of
COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such
as influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV), and
COVID-19.
These are all common pathogens but due to changes in social
mixing may not follow usual seasonal infection patterns. The UK
experienced similar trends in 2022.
The World Health Organization (WHO) provided an update on
23 Novemberafter speaking with Chinese health authorities
from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and
the Beijing Children’s Hospital. The Chinese authorities advised
that there has been no detection of any unusual or novel
pathogens or unusual clinical presentations, including in Beijing
and Liaoning, but only the general increase in respiratory
illnesses due to multiple known pathogens.
UKHSA is closely
monitoring the situation and will respond as more information
becomes available.
UKHSA routinely
conducts horizon scanning for international infectious disease
signals to detect, assess and communicate potential infectious
threats to UK public health and will continue to work with
WHO as well as
other professional organisations in the UK and internationally to
better understand the current epidemiology.
Professor Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:
The World Health Organization has received an official response
from China following its request for detailed information
on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported
clusters of pneumonia in children.
We need to keep an open mind about the cause of any increased
reporting of clusters of disease including of this illness in
Chinese children.
UKHSA is closely
monitoring the situation and will continue to work with
international partners to assess the emerging information as it
becomes available.
