Overview

• Respiratory illnesses have surged in northern China, particularly among children, leading to overcrowded hospitals and raising concerns of a new pandemic threat.
• Chinese health authorities attribute the rise in infections to a mix of already known viruses and the country's first full cold season after strict COVID-19 restrictions were lifted last December.
• Despite the surge, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese health officials have found no evidence of a new or unusual pathogen causing the outbreak.
• Experts suggest that the surge could be due to decreased immunity among children due to prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns and the lifting of restrictions.
• The WHO advises against any travel or trade restrictions based on the current information and recommends normal measures to avoid respiratory illnesses.