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... Why It Matters

Media reports in other Asian countries such as India, Indonesia and Japan have warned people to be vigilant and reconsider visiting China. This follows a spike in respiratory illness cases across China which has echoes of the surge during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What To Know

Half a decade on from the COVID outbreak, images posted on social media of hospitals in China have spiked concerns of another heath crisis.

China's National Disease Control and Prevention Administration reported an increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV, during the winter, state media outlet China Daily reported on December 27.

However, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said respiratory infections "peak during the winter season" and that the Chinese government "cares about the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners coming to China," adding "it is safe to travel in China."

When contacted by Newsweek, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the latest Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention report on January 2 said "as expected for this time of year there is a month-over-month increase of acute respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, RSV and Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)." ...