DOH seeks data from China on respiratory illness

The Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB) has reached out to Chinese health authorities to request more information on the upsurge of respiratory illnesses among children in Beijing. 

China is grappling with a spike in respiratory illnesses as it enters its first full winter season since it lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in December, with cases among children appearing especially high in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning province where hospitals are warning of long waits, according to a Reuters report.

The DOH said it is closely monitoring the event.

“Locally, suspect cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) are reported to the Epidemiology Bureau for continued surveillance,” said the Health Department according to a tweet of GMA Integrated News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez. 

“Currently, ILI cases are still on an uptrend but at a slower pace,” it said. 

The situation came into the spotlight this week when the World Health Organization (WHO) asked China for more information, citing a report by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children.

On Thursday, the WHO said China had responded to its request and the data it provided suggested the cases were linked to the lifting of COVID curbs along with the circulation of known pathogens like mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common bacterial infection that typically affects children, which has circulated since May.

This month, authorities began issuing health advisories and warning the public of long waits at crowded hospitals but they have not imposed measures like the ones during the COVID pandemic, such as masks or closing schools.

There has been no indication of any undue public alarm.

Meanwhile, the DOH last month said ILI cases in the Philippines increased by 45% so far in 2023. At least 151,375 ILI cases have been registered in the country as of October 13. Over the same period in 2022, the country had 104,613.

The DOH earlier confirmed that cases of influenza and COVID-19 have been increasing due to temperature changes over the rainy season.

To prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, the Health Department likewise reminded the public to practice minimum public health standards including observing cough etiquette, wearing masks, getting vaccinated, and staying at home or isolating if sick. —LDF, GMA Integrated News