From Cayman Islands Ministry of Health Communications

Hon. Sabrina Turner, MP

Grand Cayman, Friday, 24 November 2023– The Ministry of Health & Wellness is carefully monitoring the emerging situation of reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China recently reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO has been working closely with the Chinese Authorities and have obtained information that the increase in number of cases of respiratory infections is likely to be due to a range of common infections usually seen around the Winter period.

The viral infections being identified in China include Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), adenovirus infections, and the ‘flu. These outbreaks appear to have started in October 2023.

The Cayman Islands Molecular Biology Laboratory is well equipped to detect and diagnose all of these infections.

The Chief Medical Officer has advised that the report by the WHO is consistent with China emerging from strong measures to control COVID-19. These measures have kept many of their children from having been exposed to these common infections, meaning they have also not gained immunity to them. As a consequence,  more children than normal would be susceptible to infection and these outbreaks are likely to be a catch-up effect.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness will continue to monitor this situation, provide updates and take appropriate action if we detect anything of concern.