The World Health Organization (WHO) issues a statement to China's state propaganda agency Global Times Experts said on Wednesday that they believe the surge in patients with respiratory infections in Chinese hospitals is not unusual and no state of emergency has been declared.
In China, hospital visits due to various respiratory viral infections such as influenza, Wuhan coronavirus, mycoplasma pneumonia, and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) are increasing nationwide. The latter is causing the most alarm, especially in the international media, where many outlets are comparing the ongoing situation this winter to the chaotic early days of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Wuhan coronavirus disease, HMPV is not a new virus and has been circulating around the world for decades. Nevertheless, Chinese social media is tightly controlled.People on Chinese social media have expressed panic over the situation, sharing footage of overcrowded hospitals and calling the infection situation a “major mess.” and accuses hospitals of turning away patients. According to To Radio Free Asia (RFA). Chinese video app DoonThe app, known as Tiktok in the West, has seen a particular increase in the number of videos warning about the public health situation in several major cities.
The situation is particularly concerning as China prepares for the Lunar New Year, which begins on January 29th. This holiday typically marks a time of year for business travel in China and many parts of Asia. In 2020, Lunar New Year travel facilitated the spread of the new coronavirus from Wuhan. Before the world knew the severity of the outbreak in Wuhan, and before China imposed a brutal lockdown, five million people left Wuhan for the city. It had been national policy for years, until widespread protests ended.
RFA reported On Wednesday, Chinese public health authorities announced they had ordered civilians to wear sanitary masks, citing influenza as the most common infectious disease.
“As the Spring Festival holiday approaches, there will be an increase in personal travel and visits to relatives and friends,” the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned. “Masks must be worn correctly when using public transport or when going to crowded and relatively enclosed places.”
RFA reports that on social media, users are posting warnings about hospital crowding and poor service, but the government has not yet implemented any censorship, presumably to reduce crowding. This is probably to discourage people from going there.
“A new strain of influenza is wreaking havoc in Shanghai! Hospitals are overcrowded. Parents, please protect your children. Avoid crowded places!” one social media user warned.
“Emergency rooms can't see everyone, they just hand out medicines and tell people to stay home,” another user warned.
Chinese civilians told the media using fake names that they feared “many different viruses” were spreading and that they could not trust the government to be transparent about the true nature of the virus. Ta. A Wuhan resident said hospitals were full because patients were asking for intravenous fluids. “But all the seats in local hospitals for receiving IV fluids are full.”
Unlike in the United States, where patients with viral respiratory infections typically focus on staying hydrated and managing their symptoms with over-the-counter medications, in China it is common for patients to go to the hospital for intravenous fluids. , foot traffic to hospitals is increasing. Urgent clinics and private clinics are also less common, so more patients turn to hospitals first. Some scientists Recommended China says it will restrict the use of intravenous infusions when oral medications are an effective alternative.
According to Global TimesWHO issued a statement reaffirming that HMPV is not a new virus and refusing to describe the current situation as a public health emergency.
“Levels of respiratory infections reported in China are within normal winter ranges,” WHO statement read. “According to authorities, hospital occupancy is currently lower than this time last year, and no state of emergency or response has been activated.”
The UN agency acknowledged an “increase in common respiratory infections in the country” but said it was “expected” in the Northern Hemisphere winter. The WHO also appears to praise China's communist public health apparatus, citing the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a source suggesting that the situation in the country is typical and there is no need for alarm. Ta.
“The group assured that China has a surveillance system for influenza-like illnesses and serious acute respiratory infections,” it said. Global Times Reported. “According to China CDC data, the pathogens that cause these infections are known and include seasonal influenza virus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), HMPV, and SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus infection). Contains viruses that cause
The WHO also added that influenza infections remain “by far the most common” and are still increasing in the new year.
In response to questions, the Chinese government insists the situation is under control and visitors should not hesitate to travel to China.
“Respiratory infections tend to peak in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. said On January 3, reporters answered questions about foreign governments' infectious disease control measures. “Compared to previous years, the severity of the disease seems to be lower and the scale of the spread is smaller. We can assure you that the Chinese government is concerned about the health of Chinese citizens and foreign residents in China.”
“It's safe to travel in China,” she reiterated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs again responded to questions about the respiratory disease on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, “The Chinese government has and will continue to publicly disclose information on infectious diseases in a timely and transparent manner in accordance with the law.” said reporters.
Asked if China was still safe to visit, he said: “I will refer you to the competent authorities.”
