China to increase clinics to treat fever due to outbreak of respiratory infections

The Health Commission of China urged local authorities this Sunday to increase the number of clinics to treat fever cases at a time when the country faces an outbreak of respiratory infections due to “known pathogens”.

Commission spokesperson Mi Feng stated at a press conference that “The increase in acute respiratory infections is related to the simultaneous circulation of several types of pathogens, especially influenza.”

“Efforts should be made to increase the number of clinics and treatment areas, adequately expand service hours and ensure the supply of medicines”said Mi, according to the local press.

He also asked “do a good job in epidemic prevention and control in key crowded places such as schools, child care institutions and nursing homes, as well as reduce the flow of people and visits”.

Cases among children are being especially high in the north of the country, such as Beijing or Liaoning province, where hospitals warn of “long waits” to care for patients.

According to Mi, the outbreak is due to “known pathogens”such as seasonal flu, as well as rhinovirus, mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus and adenovirus.

Representatives of the Chinese Health Commission held a video conference meeting with officials from the Chinese Health Commission last week. World Health Organization (WHO) in which Chinese officials presented surveillance and detection data for pathogens that cause respiratory diseases, as well as diagnosis and treatment protocols.

The notification came after the WHO asked China for detailed information on the recent increase in cases of respiratory diseases and outbreaks of childhood pneumonia.

The Chinese authorities already asked last Thursday to strengthen primary care and coordination between hospitals to face the increase in cases of respiratory infections.

According to an official from the National Health Commission cited by the official Xinhua agency, the agency has issued a series of measures to “improve the capacity to diagnose and treat common respiratory infections in community health centers and hospitals”, as well as for “facilitate the identification and referral of serious cases.”

The agency issued these recommendations after Chinese health authorities reported an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in the country, something they attributed in part to the lifting of preventive measures against the covid-19 at the beginning of this year.