Amman, Jan. 7 (Petra) – The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Tuesday that the global spread of respiratory viruses remains within the expected seasonal levels for winter, with public health risks currently considered low. This comes despite some reported cases in the U.S. and China, that do not necessitate any emergency declarations or responses.

WHO spokesperson Margret Harris stated during a press conference in Geneva that reports from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 2, covering the period until the end of December 2024, noted an increase in common respiratory infections in China, including seasonal flu, pneumonia viruses, and the virus causing COVID-19.

However, she added that hospital admission rates are lower than those recorded during the same period last year, according to Chinese health authorities, confirming that no emergency response is required.

Regarding the human pneumonia virus that recently spread, Harris clarified that it is not a new virus, as it was first identified in 2001. It is one of the common viruses that causes mild respiratory symptoms in most cases.

Harris also noted that WHO’s influenza monitoring system data shows an increase in seasonal flu cases, particularly in Asia, Europe, and Africa, aligning with seasonal expectations.

//Petra// AF
07/01/2025 23:51:48