China Guarantees It Is Safe To Visit Even Though The Central Pneumonia Case Soars

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - China remains safe to visit despite a spike in pneumonia cases, especially for children, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

"Let me assure you that traveling and doing business in China is safe and there is no need to worry," Wang said at a regular press conference in Beijing, China.

pneumonia cases, mainly attack children, are soaring in China, and were first reported by China's National Health Commission on November 13, 2023.

"China's National Health Commission (NHC) has held a press conference, along with the National Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, at WHO request and has regulated the exchange of information on health experts," Wang said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), according to Wang, has also conveyed the current situation of respiratory infectious diseases.

So far, patients infected with pneumonia have symptoms of fever, fatigue, and cough. Children's hospitals in several cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Liaoning, have experienced a surge in patients in recent weeks.

On November 22, 2023, WHO requested the results of an investigation by the Chinese government regarding the cause of this outbreak.

According to China's National Health Commission, the increase in cases was caused by several respiratory pathogens such as pneumonia mycoplasma bacteria, influenza viruses, and viral respiratory infections (RSV) and adenoviruses, so no new pathogens have been found in the case.

However, the increase in pneumonia cases in China has also sparked global concerns over the possibility of a new pandemic threat four years after COVID-19 first emerged in the country.

The outbreak strikes China as the country's population undergoes its first winter without strict COVID-19 restrictions for three winters in 2020, 2021, and 2022 to contain COVID-19.

WHO recommends Chinese people to vaccinate, keep their distance from sick people, stay at home when sick, undergo medical tests and treatments as needed, wear masks properly, ensure good ventilation and wash hands regularly.