China says respiratory illness cases are under control as Taiwan issues travel advisory

Taiwan has issued a cautionary advisory, urging both its elderly and young citizens to avoid travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, citing a recent surge in respiratory illnesses in the region. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi countered concerns, asserting that Chinese authorities have effectively addressed the situation. In response to the rise in respiratory illnesses, the World Health Organization (WHO) had requested comprehensive information from China, with a WHO official later stating that the current spike is not as severe as pre-Covid-19 levels, and no novel or abnormal pathogens have been identified in these cases.

Wang Yi, addressing reporters at the United Nations in New York during his chairmanship of a U.N. Security Council session on the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasized that China’s engagement with the international community remains unaffected by these health concerns. He welcomed visits from global friends, indicating a commitment to maintaining international interactions.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s health ministry has specifically advised the elderly, young children, and individuals with compromised immunity to abstain from traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau unless absolutely necessary. The advisory also recommends that those who must travel take preventive measures, such as receiving flu and COVID vaccinations before undertaking the journey.

Critics, including epidemiologists such as Shu-Ti Chiou from the Health & Sustainable Development Foundation in Taipei, argue that this advisory may lead the public to a false sense of security, assuming that avoiding travel to China guarantees immunity from respiratory illnesses. Rajib Dasgupta, an epidemiologist and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, shares the sentiment, stating that travel restrictions may not be an effective measure to interrupt the transmission of respiratory infections.

Notably, Taiwan has been vigilant about potential disease outbreaks originating from China since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002-2003, during which China initially attempted to conceal the outbreak. The advisory from Taiwan comes as a precautionary measure against a backdrop of historical caution and ongoing global concerns about transparent reporting on infectious diseases.