Last Updated on 6 months by Publishing Team

PR 51/23

Date: 23/11/2023

Public Advisory

Ministry monitoring reports of clusters of respiratory illness in children in Northern China

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring reports in the last 24 hours of an increase in respiratory illness in Northern China, especially in children. The Ministry has consulted the World Health Organisation (WHO) and note that the WHO has requested additional information from China, as stated in a press release today.

We also note that as China enters its winter season, it has reported an increase in respiratory infections that include influenza, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and mycoplasma pneumonia, which are all common pathogens that cause respiratory illness in children.

It is possible that the more recent reports of an increase in respiratory illness in Northern China are also due to these common respiratory viruses that affect children, which decreased during the pandemic due to restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and then rebounded once those restrictions lifted. We saw a similar situation in Fiji and other countries in the last two years.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will continue to monitor the situation and update the public as more information is received.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Ministry of Health & Medical Services,

Communications Team

Mobile: 2384535

Email: katonivualikumela@gmail.com; mela.katonivualiku@health.gov.fj; riaz.healthfiji@gmail.com;