Whether it’s COVID-19, which shook the world three years ago, or a recent surge in acute respiratory infections, China has consistently been a hub of infectious outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in November that the increase in hospitalizations in China is linked to regular winter diseases rather than new pathogens. This winter’s spike in infections was predicted to be the first in China without COVID-19 restrictions since the epidemic started in 2020. The majority of spikes in disease that occurred when COVID-19 restrictions were eased in other nations were caused by influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Several factors are attributed to this surge in respiratory illnesses in China. Chinese authorities have pointed to the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Media reports also linked the increase to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the onset of colder weather, which typically leads to a spike in respiratory infections.
The Chinese authorities claim that enhanced surveillance for respiratory illnesses has been in place since mid-October, contributing to increased detection and reporting. They advised that enhanced outpatient and inpatient surveillance has been implemented for respiratory illnesses, covering a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae for the first time.
