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Following concerns about a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China’s northern regions, particularly affecting children, the World Health Organization (WHO) communicated that Chinese officials have not detected any “unusual or novel diseases.”

The increase in respiratory diseases is reportedly due to the lifting of COVID-19 measures and the spread of various pathogens, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

In a recent press conference, China’s National Health Commission stated, “there had been an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases,” attributing this to the end of COVID-19 restrictions. These comments come amidst external concerns raised by ProMED, an online medical community, about undiagnosed pneumonia cases in northern China.

This comes after Taiwanese media outlet FTV News reported overwhelmed children’s hospitals, raising questions about a potential epidemic cover-up.

In response to the situation, the World Health Organization said, “No changes in the disease presentation were reported by the Chinese health authorities,” and the healthcare system was managing the increased patient load. The WHO has since urged the Chinese population to take preventative measures against respiratory infections and emphasized the importance of testing.