India assumes Chair of Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre
India and eight neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the founding members of ADPC
Vaccination, hygiene, clean environment, avoiding close contact are some of the things one has to keep in mind to avoid getting respiratory illness
SNS | New Delhi | December 2, 2023 10:21 am
A surge in hospitalization cases linked to a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China has raised concerns, particularly among children who are experiencing symptoms like fever and lung damage, but not exhibiting the typical signs of pneumonia such as breathlessness or coughing.
This alarming trend has now found echoes in Ohio, US, where a considerable number of children are being admitted to hospitals with similar mysterious pneumonia symptoms. Ohio authorities are investigating the cause behind this spike in infections, dismissing the possibility of a novel respiratory ailment. Instead, they are exploring the likelihood of multiple common viruses coinciding and contributing to the surge.
The recent increase in respiratory illnesses among children has prompted experts to consider various factors, including allergens, lifestyle changes, and the spread of viruses like Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and influenza. Environmental elements such as air pollution, exposure to tobacco smoke, and indoor allergens are cited as contributors to the elevated risk of respiratory diseases in children.
Advertisement
Lifestyle alterations, including reduced physical activity and increased screen time, are believed to potentially weaken children’s immune systems. Additionally, the transmission of viruses like RSV and influenza in settings like schools or daycare centers, where children closely interact, can lead to respiratory infections. Changes in climate patterns are also seen as potential factors influencing the prevalence and spread of respiratory illnesses.
Vaccination, hygiene, clean environment, avoiding close contact are some of the things one has to keep in mind to avoid getting respiratory illness.
Advertisement
India and eight neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the founding members of ADPC
I n the new geopolitical contestation and great power rivalry that has seen the United States and China pitched against each other in spreading their respective spheres of influence in various regions of the world, the smaller countries are exposed to their vulnerabilities when wooed either by strategic compulsions or economic doles.
Once upon a time, China was invited to large multilateral military exercises, with RIMPAC in Hawaii being an obvious example.
Advertisement