China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, addressed the recent surge in respiratory illnesses in the country, stating that it’s a common issue faced globally. He assured that Chinese authorities have the situation effectively under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) had requested detailed information, but a WHO official mentioned on Monday that the increase in illnesses is not as high as pre-COVID-19. No new or unusual pathogens were identified in the recent cases.
Minister Wang emphasized that the clusters of flu cases among children are a common phenomenon, and China has successfully managed them. He affirmed that China’s interactions with the international community won’t be affected, welcoming visits from friends worldwide.
In response, Taiwan’s health ministry advised the elderly, very young, and those with weak immunity to avoid travel to China due to the rise in respiratory illnesses. However, some experts criticized this move as ineffective in managing public health risks. Taiwan has been cautious about disease outbreaks since the SARS epidemic in 2002-2003.
The health ministry suggested that if travel to China is necessary, individuals should receive flu and COVID vaccinations before the trip. Some experts, like epidemiologist Shu-Ti Chiou, expressed concerns that the advisory might create a misconception that not going to China ensures protection from respiratory illnesses.
Epidemiologist Rajib Dasgupta noted that travel restrictions for respiratory infections might not be an effective measure to interrupt transmission. On the other hand, some public health researchers found the travel advisory reasonable, anticipating a potential increase in respiratory illnesses in Taiwan during winter and the post-pandemic period.
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Concerns about transparency in reporting, reminiscent of early COVID-19 cases, have been raised about China and the WHO. China’s Taiwan affairs office and authorities in Hong Kong and Macau did not immediately respond to requests for comment.