No new infectious diseases found in investigations, China's National Health Commission says

As the country faces its first full winter since lifting strict COVID-19 restrictions, China’s surge in respiratory illness is caused by known pathogens and there is no sign of new infectious diseases, said a health official on Saturday. The increase in illness in the nation where COVID originated in late 2019 drew attention when the World Health Organization requested information last week, referring to a report on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children. To address the situation, Chinese authorities plan to open more pediatric outpatient clinics, ensure a broader distribution of flu vaccines among the elderly and children, and promote the use of masks and handwashing, as outlined by Mi Feng, an official with China’s National Health Commission, during a press conference. Despite the spike in respiratory diseases, both Chinese doctors and international experts have not expressed alarm, noting that many other countries experienced similar surges in respiratory ailments after easing pandemic measures, a step China took at the end of the previous year.