China reports decline in respiratory infectious diseases

The level of respiratory infectious diseases' spread in China has begun declining, a national viral disease researcher said during a news conference on Sunday.

Chen Cao, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, said that during the week from Jan 13 to 19, the ratio of flulike cases among all hospital visits had decreased compared to the previous week.

"The positivity rate of influenza flu and mycoplasma pneumoniae has been falling continuously and the spread of the COVID-19 disease and other respiratory pathogens has begun dropping," he said.

"Overall, the activity of influenza flu and other respiratory pathogens and the epidemic level of respiratory illness are falling."

Chen said that China is still in the midst of the winter and spring peak season for flu, which typically lasts from November to February or March.

He advised the public to maintain good personal hygiene, such as wearing masks when visiting hospitals and crowded public spaces or when using public transportation.

"It is also necessary to receive flu vaccines especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly, children and chronic illnesses," he said.

Mi Feng, spokesman of the National Health Commission, added that all pathogens in circulation in China are caused by known strains and no new pathogens have been detected.