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The health ministry yesterday urged local authorities to increase the number of fever clinics as China grapples with a surge in respiratory illnesses in its first full winter since easing Covid curbs.

The spike become a global issue last week when the World Health Organization asked China for more information, citing a report on clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia among children by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases.

The WHO said Friday no new or unusual pathogens had been found, while National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said yesterday the surge in acute respiratory illnesses was linked to the simultaneous circulation of several kinds of pathogens, most prominently influenza.

Cases among children are appearing especially high in northern areas like Beijing and Liaoning province.

Children wait outside a hospital in Beijing to be treated.

Feverish kids spur Beijing race for more clinics