World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday expressed concern about the increase in respiratory diseases in China and asked the population to “take measures” to protect themselves, according to a statement published in the social network

“The WHO issued an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory diseases and pneumonia outbreaks in children“said the bulletin, which recommends “taking measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness.”

Chinese authorities and media reported an increase in respiratory illnesses, including foci of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in the north of the country.

On November 22, WHO requested “additional epidemiological and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from the outbreaks detected in children.”

He also requested “additional information on recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, in particular influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for Covid-19), RSV affecting infants and mycoplasma pneumoniae, as well as the level of congestion in the healthcare system,” the statement said.

The organization noted that Chinese authorities attribute this increase in respiratory diseases to the lifting of anti-Covid restrictions and the spread of known pathogens.

The measures proposed to China are similar to those during the Covid-19 pandemic: vaccination, keeping your distance from the sick, staying at home if you have complaints, carrying out tests and wear a mask if necessaryin addition to properly ventilating the premises and washing your hands properly.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the first cases of which were discovered in China at the end of 2019, the WHO repeatedly accused Beijing of a lack of transparency and cooperation.

The WHO and several countries have also denounced this lack of cooperation from China in the investigation into the origins of the pandemic, which has not yet led to definitive conclusions. (JO)