China's CDC Releases March Data on Multiple Viruses Spreading in the Country, Sparking Skepticism
China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) has released its official data for March on COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses spreading in China, which has sparked some skeptical reactions from experts.
Mainland Chinese citizens suspect that the authorities are continuing to cover up the truth about respiratory disease epidemics in China, as official data continue to not match their lived experience.
In its report on the national COVID-19 epidemic situation for March, released on April 21, the China CDC
The latest China CDC weekly update on 'National sentinel surveillance of acute respiratory infectious diseases' was for the week of March 24 to March 30, and was issued on April 3. The CDC said in the weekly report that it collected respiratory samples from outpatient influenza-like cases and hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases in sentinel hospitals across the country, excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
The test results showed that the main pathogens detected in outpatient respiratory samples were rhinovirus, COVID-19, and human metapneumovirus; the main pathogens detected positively in respiratory samples of hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases were respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and human metapneumovirus.
'This is a very vague and simple statistical report,' Sean Lin, assistant professor in the Biomedical Science Department at Feitian College and former U.S. army microbiologist, told The Epoch Times on April 25, as the report 'did not provide the specific number of cases or samples tested.'
Related Stories
2/26/2025
2/24/2025
Lin noted that the reporting did not include human infections of avian influenza (bird flu). In early March, the Chinese regime admitted 'sporadic'
The Epoch Times also reported that the China CDC reported 127 cases of infection with the mutated strain of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in March, which is more contagious, in an internal document that was
Lin said that he believes that the omission of human infections of avian influenza from the latest report is because the regime is restricting the release of information about bird flu, especially H5N1, as it may already be spreading among humans and be one of the main causes of ongoing serious respiratory infections in China.
The China CDC said that 'no influenza-like illness outbreaks were reported nationwide' in its latest China Influenza Surveillance Weekly Report issued on April 17, covering the period from April 7 to April 13.
The official report said the main pathogen causing respiratory infections across China is the influenza A viral strain subtype A(H1N1)pdm09.
'Since October 1, 2024, drug resistance monitoring has shown that 83 A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype influenza strains have reduced or highly reduced sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors,' the report stated.
Lin said this is worth noting, even though the CCP is being deliberately vague about it.
'What is the percentage of this 'highly reduced sensitivity'? Can it be interpreted as a 'highly drug-resistant' virus strain? That is to say, Tamiflu (a neuraminidase inhibitor) commonly used on the market to treat influenza viral infections may be completely ineffective against such virus strains. This is very important information but the weekly influenza report glossed over it,' he said.
Official Data Different From Experience
Because of the CCP's record of publishing unreliable data, including its underreporting of COVID-19 infections and related deaths since early 2020, anecdotal accounts by residents provide helpful supplementary information for understanding the situation on the ground in the totalitarian country.
A Shanghai-based online writer, who didn't give his name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'This time, the outbreak in Shanghai gives me a different feeling than the [2020–2022] COVID-19 outbreak. The people infected now are mainly children, and there are also elderly people, but not many. There have also been sudden deaths of young people in their 30s and 40s in the north, but this is rare in Shanghai.'
The Shanghai resident also said, 'I went to Kunming [in southwestern China] last year and traveled to Tun Village. I had diarrhea at the time, and the COVID-19 nucleic acid test result showed that I was infected with COVID-19. However, the doctor said that the regulations did not allow them to write COVID-19 as the diagnosis, so they wrote gastroenteritis instead.'
The symptoms of common influenza B, influenza A, COVID-19, or norovirus, are very similar, so there are more cases in ongoing viral infections in China, Dr. Jonathan Liu, a professor at Canada Public College and director of Liu's Wisdom Healing Centre, told The Epoch Times on April 26.
He said that the reason why the Chinese regime is downplaying the current epidemic is due to certain considerations, 'which is to show that COVID-19 is under control in China, so as not to affect foreign investment and avoid causing panic among the people. It does this to maintain the regime's stability.'
Meanwhile, Chinese residents across the country continue to report an increasing number of sudden deaths and overcrowded hospitals.
A family member (2nd L) holds an IV drip for a child (L) receiving care at the pediatric department of a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province, on Jan. 6, 2025.
AFP/China
Mr. An, a resident in the megacity of Shenzhen in southern China who didn't give his full name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'There are many sudden deaths now of people of all ages but more are young people. I have seen quite a few young people in their twenties or thirties who were not sick or had no symptoms suddenly collapse. I saw people collapse while walking on the street.'
Mr. Zhang, a resident of Nanyang city in Henan Province in northern China who didn't give his full name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'Our funeral homes are quite busy, and the hospitals are very busy.'
He continued, 'I went to the hospital to visit a relative of mine who was hospitalized a few days ago. When I arrived at the hospital, the corridors were full of beds, including areas by the elevator doors. There was really no place to put more beds, especially in the cardiovascular and respiratory wards.'
Mr. Yuan, a resident of Fuyang city in Anhui Province in East China who didn't give his full name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'Many people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s died suddenly. Funeral homes and hospitals are full. Some diseased were buried after cremation, and some were just buried secretly. All the burial spaces in cemeteries have been sold out.'
A large amount of video footage shot by Chinese residents has emerged on social media in recent months showing many
Luo Ya and Li Jing contributed to this report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Justice Department accuses two Chinese researchers of smuggling 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into US
By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. federal prosecutors have accused two Chinese nationals of smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon into the United States for research. The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday identified the pathogen as Fusarium graminearum, a fungus it said was classified in scientific literature as a potential agroterrorism weapon. In a statement it said that the fungus causes "head blight" in some crops and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses globally each year. According to an FBI criminal complaint, Zunyong Liu, 34, a researcher currently in China, brought the fungus into the United States while visiting his girlfriend, Yunqing Jian, 33, in July 2024. He admitted to smuggling in the fungus so he could conduct research on it at a University of Michigan laboratory where his girlfriend worked, according to the complaint. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the complaint, an examination of electronic communications between the two indicated that they discussed shipping biological materials and research being done in the laboratory prior to Liu's arrival. Jian and Liu were accused in the complaint of conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements and visa fraud. Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the pair's actions "posed an imminent threat to public safety." Jian was expected to appear in court in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday. A judge appointed a public defender, who could not be immediately reached for comment, to represent Jian.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Family of 19-Year-Old Grace Schara takes hospital to court in landmark wrongful death case
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – In a case that has captivated the community and raised profound questions about medical ethics, the trial concerning the wrongful death of 19-year-old Grace Schara commenced on Tuesday in Outagamie County court. The young woman, who had Down syndrome, died at Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton in 2021 after contracting COVID-19. The Schara family has launched a civil lawsuit against the hospital, alleging medical negligence, violations of informed consent, and battery. Wisconsin DNR: Limit time outside due to Canadian wildfire smoke As opening statements unfolded Tuesday morning, the parents of Grace argued that their daughter was administered a combination of medications—precedex, lorazepam, and morphine—without their knowledge or consent. They contend that these drugs, rather than complications from COVID-19, led to Grace's respiratory distress and ultimately her untimely death. The family only discovered a 'Do Not Resuscitate' (DNR) order had been placed on Grace's chart when she was already in critical condition, prompting concerns that medical staff had failed to honor their last-minute request to change her DNR status. The case marks a significant moment in legal history, as it is the first to challenge the designation of COVID-19 as the primary cause of death on a death certificate. The hospital, however, has firmly denied the allegations, asserting that Grace received appropriate care from a team of medical professionals and that her deterioration was a natural progression of her illness. 'Nothing is urgent enough to destroy their life': Sheriff in Wisconsin catches driver going 105 mph in a 55 zone During the trial, plaintiff attorney Warner Mendenhall emphasized the alarming sequence of events leading to Grace's decline, stating, 'Instead of recognizing the life-threatening situation and reducing the medications causing the problems, this medical team did the opposite.' In contrast, defense attorney Jason John Franckowiak argued that the claims are based on misunderstandings surrounding Grace's care, asserting that the medical team acted within the accepted standard of care. Defense attorney Randall also addressed the court, saying, 'We believe the evidence will show that Dr. Shokar's care and treatment of Grace Schara on October 12th and 13th of 2021, met the standard of care that applied.' The emotional weight of the trial is compounded by the heartbreaking testimony from Grace's mother, Cindy Schara, who recalled her daughter's vibrant spirit and artistic talents. 'She was so talented when it came to coloring, and she loved to leave notes for people,' Cindy reflected. 'She learned how to play violin, she was a dancer, she was an actor, she loved to be in plays, our home-schooled plays.' Wisconsin Department of Transportation warning residents of fake DMV link scams As the trial unfolds, it is expected to last up to 3 weeks, drawing attention to critical issues surrounding informed consent and the rights of patients and their families in the healthcare system. The outcome of this landmark case could have far-reaching implications for how medical decisions are made, especially during a public health crisis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
From no hope to a potential cure for a deadly blood cancer
A third responded so well that they got what seems to be an astonishing reprieve. The immunotherapy developed by Legend Biotech, a company founded in China, seems to have made their cancer disappear. And after five years, it still has not returned in those patients -- a result never before seen in this disease. Advertisement These results, in patients whose situation had seemed hopeless, has led some battle-worn American oncologists to dare to say the words 'potential cure.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'In my 30 years in oncology, we haven't talked about curing myeloma,' said Dr. Norman Sharpless, a former director of the National Cancer Institute who is now a professor of cancer policy and innovation at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. 'This is the first time we are really talking seriously about cure in one of the worst malignancies imaginable.' The new study, reported Tuesday at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, was funded by Johnson & Johnson, which has an exclusive licensing agreement with Legend Biotech. The 36,000 Americans who develop multiple myeloma each year face an illness that eats away at bones, so it looks as if holes have been punched out in them, said Dr. Carl June, of the University of Pennsylvania. Bones collapse. June has seen patients who lost 6 inches in height. Advertisement 'It's a horrible, horrible death,' June said. 'Right now advanced myeloma is a death sentence.' (June has immunotherapy patents that are owned by his university.) There have been treatment advances that increased median survival from two years to 10 over the past two decades. But no cures. Dr. Peter Voorhees of the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in North Carolina and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, who is lead researcher for the newly published study, said patients usually go through treatment after treatment until, ultimately, the cancer prevails, developing resistance to every class of drug. They end up with nothing left to try. The Legend immunotherapy is a type known as CAR-T. It is delivered as an infusion of the patient's own white blood cells that have been removed and engineered to attack the cancer. The treatment has revolutionized prospects for patients with other types of blood cancer, like leukemia. Making CAR-T cells, though, is an art, with so many possible variables that it can be hard to hit on one that works. And it can have severe side effects including a high fever, trouble breathing and infections. Patients can be hospitalized for weeks after receiving it. But Legend managed to develop one that works in multiple myeloma, defying skeptics. The Chinese company gained attention for its CAR-T eight years ago when it made extravagant claims, which were met by snickers from American researchers. Advertisement Johnson & Johnson, though, was looking for a CAR-T to call its own. So, said Mark Wildgust, an executive in the oncology section of the American drug giant, the company sent scientists and physicians to China to see if the claims were true. 'We went site by site to look at the results,' he said. The company was convinced. It initiated a collaboration with Legend and began testing the treatment in patients whose myeloma had overcome at least one standard treatment. Compared with patients who had standard treatment, those who had the immunotherapy lived longer without their disease progressing. The immunotherapy received regulatory approval in that limited setting and is sold under the brand name Carvykti. The study did not determine whether this difficult treatment saved lives. The new study took on a different challenge -- helping patients at the end of the line after years of treatments. Their immune systems were worn down. They were, as oncologists said, 'heavily pretreated.' So even though CAR-T is designed to spur their immune systems to fight their cancer, it was not clear their immune systems were up to it. Oncologists say that even though most patients did not clear their cancer, having a third who did was remarkable. To see what the expected life span would be for these patients without the immunotherapy, Johnson & Johnson looked at data from patients in a registry who were like the ones in its study -- they had failed every treatment. They lived about a year. For Anne Stovell of New York, one of the study patients whose cancer disappeared, the result is almost too good to be true. She says she went through nine drugs to control her cancer after it was diagnosed in 2010, some of which had horrendous side effects. Each eventually failed. Advertisement Taking the Legend CAR-T was difficult -- she said she had spent nearly three weeks in the hospital. But since that treatment six years ago, she has no sign of cancer. She said it was still difficult for her to believe her myeloma is gone. A new ache -- or an old one -- can bring on the fear. 'There's that little seed of doubt,' she said. But in test after test, the cancer has not reappeared. 'It's a relief for me every year to get a bone marrow biopsy,' she said. Myeloma experts applauded the results. Like treatments for many other cancers, treatments for multiple myeloma come with a high price. The drugs are 'hideously expensive,' June said, costing more than $100,000 a year. The total cost over the years can be millions of dollars, June said, usually paid by insurers, 'and it doesn't even cure you.' CAR-T is expensive too. Carvykti's list price is $555,310. But it is a one-time treatment. And, more important, the hope is that perhaps by giving it earlier in the course of the disease, it could cure patients early on. Johnson & Johnson is now testing that idea. Dr. Kenneth Anderson, a myeloma expert at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who was not involved with the study, said that if the treatment is used as a first-line treatment, 'cure is now our realistic expectation.' That, at least, is the hope, Sharpless said. And for those like the patients in the new study who are living at least five years -- so far -- without disease, the outcome 'really is eye-popping,' Sharpless said. Advertisement 'That's getting to a point where you wonder if it will ever come back,' he added. This article originally appeared in
