Sri Lanka

Northern China has reported an increase in “influenza-like illness” since mid-October when compared to the same period in the previous three years, the WHO said.“WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children,” the UN health body said in a statement on Wednesday.China’s National Health Commission told reporters last week that the respiratory illness spike was due to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens, namely influenza and common bacterial infections that affect children, including mycoplasma pneumonia.The Chinese capital of Beijing, located in the north of the country, is currently experiencing a cold snap, with temperatures expected to plummet to well below zero by Friday, state media said.Temperatures plummeted as the city “entered a high incidence season of respiratory infectious diseases”, Wang Quanyi, deputy director and chief epidemiological expert at the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told state media on Wednesday.Beijing “is currently showing a trend of multiple pathogens coexisting”, he added.‘Due to the season’At Beijing’s Capital Institute of Pediatrics’ Children’s Hospital on Thursday, AFP journalists saw crowds of parents and children dressed in winter clothes.A parent surnamed Zhang accompanied her coughing nine-year-old son and said he had fallen ill with pneumonia.“There are really a lot of children who have caught it recently,” she said.Li Meiling, 42, had brought her eight-year-old daughter, who was suffering from mycoplasma pneumonia -- a pathogen that can cause sore throats, fatigue and fever.“It’s true that a lot of children her age are ill with this at the moment,” she told AFP.But she said she was “not particularly worried” about the WHO announcement.“It’s winter, so it’s normal that there are more cases of respiratory illnesses.

It’s due to the season.”On November 21, media and public disease surveillance system ProMED reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China.The WHO said it was unclear if ProMED’s report was related to the authorities’ press conference and that it was seeking clarification.The agency “has also requested additional information on recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that gives rise to Covid-19), RSV affecting infants and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, as well as on the degree of overcrowding in the health system,” the statement added.In the meantime, it urged people to take preventative measures, including getting vaccinated, keeping distance from sick people and wearing masks.The WHO gave no indication of China’s response to the request for more information.And China’s foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment from AFP on Thursday.Calls for transparencyOver the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO repeatedly criticised Chinese authorities for their lack of transparency and cooperation.More than three years after cases were first detected in Wuhan, heated debate still rages around the origins of Covid-19.Scientists are divided between two main theories of the cause: an escape from a laboratory in the city where such viruses were being studied and an intermediate animal that infected people at a local market.Earlier this year, WHO experts said they were sure that Beijing had far more data that could shed light on the origins of Covid, and called it a moral imperative for the information to be shared.A team of specialists led by the WHO and accompanied by Chinese colleagues investigated China in early 2021, but there has not been a team able to return since and WHO officials have repeatedly asked for additional data.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stressed that getting to the bottom of the mystery could help avert future pandemics.Source - France24- Agencies 





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31-year-old hacked to death with sharp weapons


[Sri Lanka] - Substantial increase of HIV infections in Sri Lanka


[Sri Lanka] - Great Friday honored today; Sri Lanka implements unique security plans


New online reporting system released for kid sexual assault problems


South Africa bus crash eliminates 45 Easter pilgrims; 8-year-old makes it through


Evening thundershowers expected in several provinces including Western


PM Dinesh urges Asian countries to rededicate to eradicate poverty


[Sri Lanka] - Sri Lanka requires debt-restructuring propositions from dealer supervisors


UK will continue to keep Sri Lanka travel advice under close review ? Lord Ahmad


Rush hour on High-Level Road due to fallen tree branch


Easter attack claims- Maithripala ordered to make statement in court


DLB records highest-ever profit in 2023


[Sri Lanka] - Sinopec to start work on Sri Lanka refinery by June


Colombo consumer cost inflation drops to 0.9% in March


CAA to withdraw gazette prohibiting shops from charging for polythene bags


Keheliya Rambukwella even more remanded


Fire breaks out at tyre shop in Grandpass


Ex-Health Minister Keheliya gave court


Sri Lanka confident of meeting conditions for IMF funding soon - report


6 killed in suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Pakistan


[Sri Lanka] - Sri Lanka, China sign 9 agreements on cooperation


Police open fire at group of robbers; one person dead


[Sri Lanka] - New liver care center of Ragama Teaching Hospital inaugurated


Sri Lanka anticipating private equity deals amounting to $250mn


Indian HC organizes conference to explore potential of digital public infrastructure for Sri Lanka


School education will be revamped by minimizing problem of assessments - President


[Sri Lanka] - Chinese premier holds talks with Sri Lankan PM; explore cooperation in tidy energy and telecom


Heat advisory provided for numerous provinces, districts


[Sri Lanka] - ACC reveals Women s Asia Cup 2024 in Sri Lanka


[Sri Lanka] - Sri Lanka to promote registration of ships under its flag


Court dismisses initial objections raised in Keheliya s misappropriation case


Five-member SC bench to hear petitions challenging Online Safety Act


Major US bridge collapses after being hit by Colombo-bound ship


[Sri Lanka] - CBSL guv discusses why Parate Law suspension bad for credit supply


[Sri Lanka] - Unique security plans for Good Friday and Easter Sunday


National minimum month-to-month wage to be increased by Rs. 5,000


Investigation ordered into assassination attempt on Magistrate Thilina Gamage


Veteran singer Chandra Kumara Kandanarachchi passes away


T-56 firearm reported missing from Wilgamuwa police station


Govt. to provide 10kg of rice to low-income families before Avurudu


Sri Lanka Central Bank further reduces policy rates


UN Security Council demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza after US abstains


Heavy showers anticipated in parts of the island


Sri Lanka s Chief of Defence Staff visits Kenya s Defence HQ


COPA instructs officials to instantly report importation of 102 spoiled fish containers to CID


Govt prioritizing overhaul of school education and exam systems - President


Buddha Sasana Ministry problems declaration over New Year auspicious times


Three injured in luxury bus accident on Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road


Heavy showers above 100mm expected in several areas tomorrow


Ex-President Maithripala leaves CID after tape-recording statement


Appeals Court quashes findings, suggestions of political victimisation commission


HC to deliver order on Keheliya s revision petition seeking bail


UN chief says there is growing consensus to tell Israel that a ceasefire is needed


Nine students hospitalized after clash at private education institute


5 including two students arrested for taking laptop computers from school s wise class


Cost of a cup of milk tea decreased


Sri Lankan PM arrives in China for official visit


Excise revenue up by 38.5% in February 2024


President reveals rapid development plans for overlooked Mahaweli A and B zones


Bandula s US tour cut short for no-confidence vote against Speaker


IMF representatives meet with Sajith Premadasa


Third day of argument on no-confidence motion against Speaker starts


[Sri Lanka] - Sri Lanka to begin speak with restructure bonds next week - report


15 consisting of schoolchildren injured in bus accident in Wellawaya


[Sri Lanka] - 19 suspects straight connected to the underworld arrested so far - Police


Underworld gunman injured in shootout with STF succumbs to injuries


A modification in dominating dry climate condition expected from today


Underworld gunman and STF member injured in shootout at Ganemulla


[Sri Lanka] - COPE assembles under Rohitha s chairmanship amidst string of member resignations


[Sri Lanka] - President Ranil reveals vision for rapid transformation into export economy


Intermittent fasting linked to high risk of cardiovascular death, study reveals


BIA records sharp increase, serving 850,000 travellers this year AASL Chairman


Vietnam s president resigns after just over a year in office


[Sri Lanka] - Update on Sri Lankans in Haiti amidst escalation of violence


33 including FSP s Duminda Nagamuwa and Lahiru Weerasekara arrested during protest


COPF recommends deferment of CBSL salary increase


Tear gas and water cannons fired at protesters in Pettah





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