No New Diseases, Stable Medical Resources, and Effective Vaccines

China Addresses Concerns Over Respiratory Infections

Chinese health officials held a press conference on January 12, 2025, to address concerns about the recent rise in respiratory infections. They emphasized that no new infectious diseases have emerged and that the overall positive rate for human metapneumovirus (HMPV) testing is rising but fluctuating near a plateau.

Influenza Remains the Primary Cause of Respiratory Infections

Wang Liping, a research fellow at the China CDC, stated that influenza is the primary cause of respiratory infections in medical institutions. The influenza virus positivity rate among outpatients and emergency cases has increased by 3.8% compared to two weeks ago, but remains below the level of the same period last year. The upward trend in the positivity rate has begun to slow down, and with schools entering their winter break, the level of influenza activity is expected to decline in the latter half of January.

HMPV Increase Due to Improved Detection Methods

Wang also addressed concerns about HMPV, clarifying that it is not a new variant and has coexisted with humans for decades. The recent increase in reports is attributed to advancements in detection methods. The overall positive rate for HMPV testing is rising but fluctuating near a plateau, with a decline observed in northern China. The positive rate among patients under 14 years old has also begun to decrease.

Medical Resources Remain Stable

Gao Xinqiang, an official from China's National Health Commission (NHC), assured the public that medical resources remain stable despite the recent increase in respiratory infections. The incidence of flu is relatively high, but it has not exceeded the level of the previous year's epidemic season. The number of patients in fever clinics and emergency departments has shown a slight upward trend, but remains below the level of the same period last year.

Ample Supply of Medications

Wang Xiaoyang, an official from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, confirmed that a wide variety of drugs for respiratory diseases are available, with sufficient production capacity and output to meet public demand. This includes oseltamivir, Lianhua Qingwen, and Ibuprofen.

H1N1 Dominant Flu Strain

Wang from the CDC noted that H1N1 is the dominant flu strain in China. The NHC and CDC conducted antigenic analysis on the recently isolated H1N1 influenza viruses, showing a strong match with this year's flu vaccine, confirming its effectiveness. Resistance analysis shows that the currently circulating influenza viruses are sensitive to antiviral medications, ensuring the effectiveness of drug treatments.