What Happened: The WHO, on Thursday, requested information from China in light of findings suggesting a rise in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in children, as reported by The Hill. The uptick in illnesses is believed to be due to the easing of COVID-19 measures, leading to the spread of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 itself.

Due to overcrowding and extensive waiting times at larger hospitals, The National Health Commission of China has recommended children with mild symptoms to initially visit primary healthcare institutions or general hospital pediatric departments, as per The Associated Press. State media in China has reported that the average patient count in Beijing Children’s Hospital’s internal medicine department surpasses the hospital’s capacity, reaching over 7,000 per day.