The global spread of respiratory viruses is within expected seasonal norms for winter, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said on Tuesday during a press conference in Geneva.
Despite isolated cases of respiratory viruses reported in the United States and China, the risk to public health remains low, Harris noted.
The spokesperson underscored that individual cases of avian influenza, such as the several ones in the US in the current season, have not shifted the WHO’s risk assessment for the general population, which remains low.
Harris also referenced a report from China’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which indicates a rise in common respiratory infections through December 2024. Released on January 2, the report noted increases in seasonal flu, pneumonia-causing viruses, and COVID-19 cases.
China’s influenza surveillance system recorded over a 30% spike in positive flu cases compared to other respiratory illnesses. Despite this uptick, the WHO confirmed that these infection levels are consistent with typical winter patterns.