Niël Terblanché
While the world awaits more clarity about the mystery respiratory illness in China, Namibia has redoubled its efforts to safeguard the people against a possible local outbreak.
Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services, has said current measures align with the global stance about travel or trade restrictions based on the current understanding of the disease.
Dr Shangula, however, called for calm, adding that COVID-19 and influenza surveillance activities in place in Namibia have not yet detected an increase in respiratory infections, including COVID-19, or an increase in respiratory infection-associated hospitalizations or deaths in the country that would warrant an adjustment of the country’s response posture currently.
The sudden increase in respiratory diseases in China, first reported in various regions as well as in the capital Beijing, has triggered World Health Organization (WHO) concern and a formal request for detailed information about this outbreak and related pneumonia cases.
“On 22 November 2023, via the National Focal Point, the Ministry of Health and Social Services was notified of increases in the incidence of respiratory diseases, predominantly affecting children in the northern parts of the People’s Republic of China,” he said
According to Dr Shangula, the Chinese authorities attributed this increase to several factors which include the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the arrival of the cold season in the northern hemisphere, the circulating known pathogens such as influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
“Mycoplasma pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are known to affect children more than adults,” he added.
He said that Namibia’s stance is further strengthened by the National Action Plan on Health Security (NAPHS) 2021–2025, launched in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
The plan adheres to the International Health Regulations of 2005 and stresses the country’s commitment to a One Health Approach for public health emergencies.
According to Dr Shangula, the Namibian Government, as per the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), advises against travel for individuals exhibiting respiratory symptoms and urges people to go for medical consultation for those with a recent travel history to affected areas.
“Seeing that the reported increase in cases of respiratory infections does not meet the threshold to be a public health threat yet, the public is urged to remain calm,” he said.
Symptoms of the mystery illness are similar to many other types of respiratory infections and include fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, difficulty in breathing, and feeling generally unwell.
