Reports indicate that the enigmatic respiratory illnesses causing chaos in Chinese hospitals are now prompting nationwide concern in the medical community and affecting Washington D.C.
FOX 5 DC has gathered information indicating a rise in visits to hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and clinics. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) is said to be examining data from China, following the emergence of videos depicting groups receiving treatment for an undisclosed respiratory ailment, mainly affecting children. Chinese health authorities maintain that the increase in respiratory illnesses is attributed to the flu and familiar pathogens.
On Thursday, Chinese health officials told the WHO that they have not detected any “unusual or novel diseases” regarding an increase in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in children.
The WHO stated that external experts emphasized the need for vigilant monitoring, yet they remained unconvinced that the recent surge in respiratory illnesses in China indicated the onset of a potential global outbreak. Historical patterns suggest that the emergence of new flu strains or other pandemic-capable viruses often begins with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness.
