A recent surge in pneumonia cases in China highlights a significant trust deficit that exists between the Chinese population and the government.
On Nov 13, a notable surge in respiratory illnesses, particularly affecting children, was reported by China’s National Health Commission. The release of its report brought back echoes of the pandemic, sparking concerns among social media users about the emergence of a “new virus from China.”
In response to these fears, the World Health Organization (WHO), which had previously criticized Beijing for a lack of transparency during the Covid pandemic, called for additional information from China.
In turn, Beijing reassured the public that “there has been no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens.”
Chinese authorities attributed the increasing cases to the lifting of Covid restrictions, the onset of the cold season, and the presence of familiar pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
It is believed by Chinese experts to be linked to the emergence of an “immunity gap.” This gap arises from a decline in antibodies against respiratory pathogens within the general population. While the outbreak was primarily noted in the capital, Beijing, it also affected north-eastern Liaoning province and other regions in China.
“China’s approach to handling the outbreak highlighted the limitations of a tightly controlled media environment”
But was the Chinese public convinced by this explanation?