In the first winter of the post-pandemic era, the cases of acute respiratory diseases, including influenza, rhinovirus and mycoplasma pneumonia, continue to rise across China with the superposition of multiple respiratory diseases, according to the national health authority on Sunday.
Experts say one of the key reasons behind the prevalence of respiratory diseases this winter, which seems more noticeable than previous years, is due to the rise of an "immunity gap" resulting from a decrease in antibodies against these pathogens among the general public. They called on the public to get flu vaccines in a timely manner to reduce the risk of infection.
According to a press conference held by the National Health Commission on Sunday, the cases of recent respiratory diseases are mainly influenza, in addition to mycoplasma pneumonia, infections of rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus and others.
Multi-source monitoring shows that the main pathogens prevalent in respiratory infectious diseases among different age groups vary, Wang Huaqing, chief expert of an immunization program run by the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a press conference.
Influenza is a major respiratory disease in people of all ages. Additionally, rhinovirus infection is also predominant in people age 0-4, mycoplasma pneumonia and adenovirus infections are also predominant in people age 5-14, rhinovirus infection and COVID-19 are predominant in people age 15-59, while human metapneumovirus and common coronavirus infections are predominant in people age 60 and above, according to Wang.
