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Rumors are growing on social media: China has declared a state of emergency due to the spread of several respiratory viruses, including HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Covid-19.
However, neither the Chinese government nor the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed these claims. Decryption of the facts.
Viral images, but without proof
Since mid-December 2024, videos and photos have been circulating on TikTok, Instagram and X, showing queues in front of Chinese hospitals. These publications, viewed millions of times, evoke a “worrying” health situation. However, several of the images shared date from earlier periods. Some even date back to December 2022, when a wave of Covid-19 had saturated hospital infrastructures.
A striking example was a video posted by a Taipei-based account showing an overwhelmed children’s hospital. If these scenes reflect usual seasonal peaks, they do not prove an exceptional health crisis or a state of emergency in China.
Official statements are lacking
Contrary to what is claimed, no official announcement on a state of emergency appears on the platforms of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention or the WHO. When a critical situation arose in November 2023 with an increase in respiratory illnesses among children in northern China, these organizations actively communicated. This time around, no similar statement was issued.
Experts specify that “these peaks in respiratory diseases are recurrent in winter and do not justify exceptional measures”. Indeed, epidemics of influenza and other respiratory viruses are common at this time of year.
The WHO response
On the fifth anniversary of Covid-19, the WHO recently reiterated its call for transparency from China on data related to the virus.
According to its local office: “Without international cooperation, it is impossible to effectively prevent future pandemics.” This statement, while important, does not address an alarming current health situation.
Beware of dubious sources
The majority of information relayed comes from controversial sites like The Epoch Timesknown for spreading conspiracy theories. Users should be vigilant about this unverified content, which amplifies misinformation.
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China, covid-19, misinformation, state of emergency, winter 2024, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, WHO, Pandemic, public health, respiratory viruses
