China orders hospitals to step up treatment of respiratory illnesses

Clusters of children in north presenting symptoms prompt WHO questions

2023-11-23 WHO-CHINA_new flu.JPG

Children playing in a park in Shanghai in May 2022, as the city was about to lift COVID restrictions. COVID did not affect youngsters as badly as it did the elderly, but an undiagnosed pneumonia has now been found in clusters of children in northern China. © Reuters

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI -- Chinese health authorities on Thursday ordered hospitals to step up treatment of respiratory ailments, a day after the World Health Organization asked for more information about clusters of children who were presenting symptoms.

China had reported an increase in cases of influenza-like illness in the northern part of the country, compared with the same period in the last three years, WHO said. Clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children were reported on Tuesday, according to WHO.

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