Current:Home > InvestSurge in respiratory illnesses among children in China swamping hospitals-InfoLens
Surge in respiratory illnesses among children in China swamping hospitals
View Date:2024-12-23 11:19:02
Hospitals across China, the nation where the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged about four years ago, are grappling with a significant surge in respiratory illnesses among children. This primarily is being seen in Beijing and the northern regions.
The rise in cases has been making headlines in China and raising concerns internationally, as Chinese doctors are working overtime to care for a huge flood of small patients.
But health experts say there is no immediate cause for international concern regarding the surge in respiratory illnesses, which include pneumonia. The new cases are not on the scale of the initial COVID-19 outbreak and are not due to any new or unusual diseases, according to scientists.
"In the current outbreak of respiratory illness, the reported symptoms are common to several respiratory diseases and, as of now, at the present time, Chinese surveillance and hospital systems report that the clinical manifestations are caused by known pathogens in circulation," the World Health Organization (WHO) said late last week.
"Due to the arrival of the winter season, the increasing trend in respiratory illnesses is expected," it added.
Dr. Zuo-Feng Zhang, chair of the epidemiology department at UCLA, said "the pandemic 2.0 is not there yet," despite concerns about a new major outbreak.
Chinese authorities tried to cover up the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China, and led to millions of deaths. In contrast, this time, the WHO says China promptly provided data to the organization showing that the sick children are affected by known pathogens common globally.
Health experts suggest the increased vulnerability in children may be due to the extensive use of masks and lockdowns during the pandemic, which shielded them from exposure to ordinary bugs.
Elizabeth PalmerElizabeth Palmer has been a CBS News correspondent since August 2000. She has been based in London since late 2003, after having been based in Moscow (2000-03). Palmer reports primarily for the "CBS Evening News."
veryGood! (22)
Related
- Nevada Democrats keep legislative control but fall short of veto-proof supermajority
- To Save the Amazon, What if We Listened to Those Living Within It?
- Parties and protests mark the culmination of LGBTQ+ Pride month in NYC, San Francisco and beyond
- Enjoy the beach this summer, but beware the sting of the jellyfish
- Can't afford a home? Why becoming a landlord might be the best way to 'house hack.'
- Juan Estrada vs. Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez live: Updates, card for WBC super flyweight title
- Lautaro Martínez scores twice and Argentina playing without Messi beats Peru 2-0 to end group play
- NHL draft trade tracker: Lightning move Mikhail Sergachev as big deals dominate Day 2
- Don't Miss This Sweet Moment Between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Dads at the Kansas City Chiefs Game
- Summer hours are a perk small businesses can offer to workers to boost morale
Ranking
- Trump is likely to name a loyalist as Pentagon chief after tumultuous first term
- Teen shot and killed by police in upstate New York, authorities say
- Tia Mowry's Ex-Husband Cory Hardrict Shares How He's Doing After Divorce
- Horoscopes Today, June 29, 2024
- Republican Vos reelected as Wisconsin Assembly speaker despite losing seats, fights with Trump
- Masai Russell, Alaysha Johnson silence doubters in emotional interviews
- NASCAR at Nashville 2024: Start time, TV, streaming, lineup for Ally 400
- Could more space junk fall in the US? What to know about Russian satellite breaking up
Recommendation
-
Japan to resume V-22 flights after inquiry finds pilot error caused accident
-
Animal rescuers try to keep dozens of dolphins away from Cape Cod shallows after mass stranding
-
How to enter the CBS Mornings Mixtape Music Competition
-
NBA free agency tracker: LeBron opting out of contract but expected to return to Lakers
-
Wicked's Ethan Slater Shares How Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Set the Tone on Set
-
Ex-No.1 pick JaMarcus Russell accused of stealing donation for high school, fired as coach
-
To Save the Amazon, What if We Listened to Those Living Within It?
-
Michael J. Fox plays guitar with Coldplay at Glastonbury: 'Our hero forever'