WHO asks for information from China regarding respiratory illness outbreaks –
WHO stated that it is in contact with clinicians and scientists in China through existing technical partnerships and networks. The World Health Organization (WHO) requested that China provide detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children on Wednesday. The WHO said in a statement that Chinese officials from the National Health Commission held a press conference on November 13 to report an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the country.
According to the WHO, the increase was caused by the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions as well as the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection that typically affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus, and the virus that causes COVID-19.