WHO Urges China for Transparency on Mysterious Respiratory Outbreaks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested details from China regarding an increase in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. Chinese authorities attributed the rise to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens. The WHO has asked for additional information on the reported outbreaks among children, including epidemiologic and clinical data, laboratory results, and trends in the circulation of known pathogens. Both China and the WHO have faced questions about transparency in reporting COVID-19 cases. Undiagnosed pneumonia in children was not mentioned at a recent press conference, but there have been reports of hospitals crowded with parents and children awaiting checks. The WHO recommends following measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, including vaccination, maintaining distance from sick individuals, staying home when ill, and practicing good hygiene.