The spokesperson for the World Health Organization, Margaret Harris, stated during a press conference held last Tuesday in Geneva that the global spread of respiratory viruses remains within the expected normal levels for the current winter season. Harris affirmed that public health risks remain low despite some cases being reported in the United States and China, negating the need for declaring a state of emergency or activating any emergency response plans.
Harris emphasized the importance of monitoring the spread of avian influenza among animals, particularly poultry and cattle, in collaboration with relevant international organizations. She noted that the individual cases recorded, including the first death reported in the United States on Monday, have not affected the WHO’s risk assessment, which remains low for the general population.
Conversely, Harris drew attention to reports from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 2nd, covering the period up to the end of December 2024. She highlighted an increase in common respiratory infections in China, notably seasonal influenza, pneumonia virus, and the virus causing COVID-19.
She added that the Chinese surveillance system for monitoring influenza and severe respiratory diseases recorded an increase of over 30% in positive seasonal influenza cases among various existing respiratory diseases, confirming that respiratory infection levels in China remain within the expected range for the winter season.
