Beijing: A deadly virus, similar to COVID, has emerged in China, affecting numerous urban residents with respiratory distress and symptoms resembling those of coronavirus.
According to global news agencies, a disease with symptoms akin to both COVID and influenza is spreading rapidly in China. In response, the government has issued a red alert, urging data collection from schools and hospitals.
The rapid spread of this disease has prompted the World Health Organization to request records from the Chinese government, while the United Nations is emphasizing the need for information about the illness.
It’s important to note that this is the first outbreak since the complete lifting of COVID restrictions in China. Typically, respiratory diseases such as influenza are common during the winter season, but little is known about this particular illness.
However, the WHO has expressed concern about an increase in undiagnosed pneumonia cases in Chinese children, requesting data. Meanwhile, the United Nations states that no new disease has been identified so far, but investigation is necessary.
China has responded to the WHO, attributing the increase in cases to the control measures against COVID, implemented since May last year, along with the spread of known pathogens like Mycoplasma pneumonia, a common bacterial infection affecting mostly children.
The Chinese government acknowledges awareness of the disease’s spread, advising the public to adopt precautionary measures at crowded venues and hospitals to avoid long waiting times. However, strict lockdowns, like those during COVID, are not being enforced.
On the other hand, Bruce Thompson, head of Melbourne School of Health Sciences, remarked that initial figures indicate this is not a new form of COVID but stressed the importance of managing and controlling it.
