In China, the number of patients at fever clinics has declined since New Year’s Day, with respiratory diseases mainly focusing on influenza. However, experts predict a rebound in COVID-19 infections in January.
Fever clinics at Chinese hospitals have seen fewer patients since New Year’s Day. On Sunday, Chinese health officials suggested the COVID-19 pandemic could return in January.
National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng told a news briefing that fever clinic visits at Chinese health institutions had fluctuated downward. Currently, respiratory disorders are mostly influenza, and COVID-19 infection is low.
Wang Dayan, director of the China National Influenza Center, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), said the multi-channel monitoring system showed that sentinel hospitals’ COVID-19 virus testing rate remained below 1% after New Year’s Day and that the JN.1 variant strain proportion increased.
According to Global Times, experts expect respiratory diseases will alternate or co-circulate in China this winter and spring, with influenza viruses prevailing.
According to Wang, the COVID-19 outbreak may reappear in January due to ongoing importation of the JN.1 variation strain, a steady drop in indigenous influenza, and a decline in population immunity. The JN.1 variant is expected to become the dominant variety in China.
Wang said southern Chinese provinces started influenza season in early October, followed by northern ones in late October. Initially, H3N2 was the most common influenza strain. Within three weeks, southern provinces’ influenza B virus levels rose to 36.8%.
The share in northern provinces rose to 57.7% in five weeks. Global Times reported that influenza B virus outnumbers influenza A in various provinces.
According to Wang, “The immune response generated after contracting influenza A does not provide effective immune protection against influenza B, which means that even if one has had influenza A during the epidemic season, there is still a possibility of being infected with influenza B,” so high-risk individuals should get flu shots early every year.
Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Peking University First Hospital, told a news conference on Sunday that winter is the peak season for respiratory infectious diseases and that immunity from pathogens is short-lived, so repeated infections may occur. However, a second pathogen infection usually has minimal symptoms.
Pathogen infections, especially after upper respiratory mucosal barrier disruption, might aggravate the disease and cause additional bacterial infections. Wang added COVID-19 or influenza could worsen elderly and ill patients’ situations. Wang advocated early respiratory disease detection and intervention.
As winter break and Spring Festival approach, Mi Feng underlined the need to increase surveillance and early warning since large-scale travel and gathering may accelerate respiratory disease spread.
Global Times recommends early health consultation and referral guidance for the elderly, pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic underlying disorders, as well as convenient vaccination conditions.
Mi believes that carefully allocating medical resources, optimising treatment, and ensuring supply are crucial.
Conclusion
Since New Year’s Day, Chinese fever clinics have seen fewer cases, but the COVID-19 pandemic may return in January. Influenza still dominates respiratory illnesses, and COVID-19 infection is low. Post-New Year’s Day COVID-19 virus tests in sentinel hospitals remained below 1%, while the JN.1 variant strain increased.
During the winter and spring in China, experts expect influenza viruses to dominate. High-risk persons should get flu shots early each year. The elderly, pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic underlying disorders need urgent health consultation and referral advice as winter break and Spring Festival approach. Monitoring and early warning must be strengthened.
