No new pathogens in respiratory disease surge, China tells WHO
- WHO had asked for more information on ‘undiagnosed pneumonia’ among children in Beijing and the northeastern province of Liaoning
- Recent spike worsened by overuse of antibiotics, health experts say
But a persistent drug resistance problem caused by the overuse of antibiotics had exacerbated outbreaks caused by the mycoplasma pneumoniae in recent months, health experts said.
Pathogens like mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause common bacterial infections that typically affect children.
On Thursday, the WHO held a teleconference with China’s health authorities after it asked China for more information on “undiagnosed pneumonia” among children in Beijing and the northeastern province of Liaoning, according to media reports and infectious disease monitoring service ProMED.
It is not unusual for the WHO to ask a member country to give further information regarding outbreaks. A country has 24 hours to respond.
The WHO request drew widespread attention as it revived concerns about the evolution of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and the possibility of new pathogens, as well as debates about China’s transparency during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Beijing told the WHO on Thursday that outpatient and hospital admissions of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae started to rise as early as May. Respiratory diseases caused by other pathogens, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus and influenza virus, began to jump in October.
