China reports no unusual, novel pathogens in respiratory illness surge: WHO

WHO reports no unusual pathogens in China's upsurge of child respiratory illnesses. Teleconference held with Chinese CDC, Beijing Children's Hospital. No patient load exceeding hospital capacities. WHO recommends vaccines, distancing, masks, testing, medical care. No specific measures for travellers to China. Debate still rages around COVID-19 origins.

China says no unusual or new pathogens have been detected in the upsurge in child respiratory illnesses in the north, the WHO said on November 23 after pressing Beijing for detailed information.

Since mid-October 2023, the World Health Organization has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems showing an increase in respiratory illness in children in northern China.

The UN health agency announced late on November 22 it had made an official request to Beijing for more data, but the government offered no public comment on November 23.

The WHO said it held a teleconference on November 23 with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Beijing Children's Hospital, facilitated by the National Health Commission and the National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention.

"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 aforementioned general increase in respiratory illnesses due to multiple known pathogens," the WHO said in a statement.

"They further stated that the rise in respiratory illness has not resulted in patient loads exceeding hospital capacities.