Latest news with #ZhongNanshan
Gulf Insider
26-05-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
China's COVID Resurgence: 'Razor Blade Throat' and New Omicron XDV Variant Symptoms
China is experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19, with patients reporting symptoms of severe, burning throat pain, experts say. Zhong Nanshan, one of China's leading pulmonologists and epidemiologists, said in an interview with China-based media on May 19 that the 'razor blade throat' symptom is more pronounced in this wave of resurgence, accompanied by more frequent coughing. 'Razor blade throat' is a term used in China to describe severe throat pain, akin to swallowing shattered glass or razor blades. Dr. Li Tongzeng, director of the Infectious Diseases Department at Beijing You'an Hospital, told Chinese media that the new wave of COVID-19, which began in March, is expected to peak in late May. According to Zhong, the dominant strain in this wave is the Omicron XDV variant, which is highly transmissible but relatively less virulent. Early symptoms include fever, headaches, fatigue, a burning throat, and severe coughing. He believes the epidemic is still in the 'climbing phase' and is expected to last six to eight weeks and subside by the end of June. Chinese netizens described their painful experiences with this new strain on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform closely monitored by the Chinese regime. Netizens shared comments such as: 'During lunch time a few days ago, a colleague was coughing so wildly I thought she choked on food. She said it was a lingering effect from this COVID wave. When I asked about her main symptom, she said 'razor blade throat.'' Other comments include, 'I've been hit with razor blade throat and feel completely drained.' 'Post-COVID razor blade throat is brutal—swollen, painful, and I can barely speak. Any quick remedies?' another one read. A female Beijing resident, infected for nearly 10 days, told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times: 'I had a fever, sore throat, yellow phlegm with blood streaks, nosebleeds, cough, sneezing, a runny nose, dizziness, and no energy. It's terrifying—I sneezed once and my nose started bleeding, which scared me to death. This round of COVID is too severe.' The Chinese regime has faced long-standing accusations of concealing epidemic data, particularly regarding death tolls. Although 'rising COVID-19 infections' trended on Weibo, Chinese media downplayed the epidemic, and experts noted significant missing or uninformative data from the authorities. Dr. Jonathan Liu, a professor at the Canadian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and director of Kang Mei TCM Clinic and skeptic of data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC), said official data for March reported that seven people died from COVID-19 that month. 'With normal epidemic rates, such a low figure is implausible. Canada, with a sparse population and good sanitation, reported 1,915 COVID deaths from August last year to May this year—over 200 per month. How could China, with its dense population, have only seven deaths monthly?' Liu told The Epoch Times. According to the CCDC, outpatient and emergency cases increased from 7.5 percent to 16.2 percent, while severe hospitalized respiratory infection cases rose from 3.3 percent to 6.3 percent. Xiaoxu Sean Lin, an assistant professor in the Biomedical Science Department at Feitian College in New York and a contributor to The Epoch Times, said that the CCDC has failed to report the most important data. He told The Epoch Times that the data provided by the CCDC only reflects the increasing positive rate of the new coronavirus, omitting four critical factors: the number of confirmed cases, hospitalization rates, severe case rates, and mortality rates. These are essential for understanding the true extent of the outbreak. He said that the Chinese regime has in the past concealed too much information. COVID-19 cases have also risen in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. On May 8, Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection reported that over the past four weeks, key COVID monitoring indicators reached a one-year high, with 31 adult deaths. Singapore's health authorities noted on May 13 that cases from April 27 to May 3 surged by about 28 percent to more than 14,000, with a 30 percent increase in daily hospitalizations. The Taiwan CDC reported that cases have risen significantly since May, with a peak expected in June. Zhong said that from a pathogenic perspective, the COVID-19 virus may reduce its virulence to ensure its survival, but it is too early to judge whether it will become 'flu-like' in the future. He said that one thing is certain, however: The COVID-19 virus will not disappear. Luo Ya, Xiaohua Gu, and Grace Song contributed to this report. Also Read: China Doesn't Have The Economic Strength To Save South Africa
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Covid cases reaching a peak in China and will start falling next month: leading expert
Covid-19 infections in China are reaching a peak and will start to decline next month, the country's best known respiratory diseases specialist has said, as the authorities urged the public to take precautions. Zhong Nanshan told the opening of the Guangzhou Science and Technology and Activity Week on Saturday that people with symptoms – particularly the elderly – should seek medical treatment within 48 hours. He said that in the current cycle, the virus was more infectious and the symptoms were similar to general influenza but with a more obvious sore throat, according to Shanghai-based news site 'This round of coronavirus infections is at its peak and is predicted to decline in June,' said Zhong, who is often described as China's Anthony Fauci. 'From March to May, the number of people infected with the coronavirus has risen, according to data from Hong Kong, Singapore, Britain, France, Brazil and Norway.' Citing data from the Chinese Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he said that between March 31 and May 4, tests on outpatients with flu symptoms and hospital patients with severe symptoms had seen an increase in the number of positives from 7.5 per cent to 16.2 per cent. However, the overall number of acute respiratory infectious diseases remained at a low level, according to the CDC report released on May 8, but there was an upward trend in the number of positives in April. Test results showed that all detected pathogens were known common ones and no unknown pathogens or newly emerging infectious diseases had been found.
The Star
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Experts in China work on Covid-19 antibody treatments for young children
GUANGZHOU: Zhong Nanshan (pic), a noted expert on respiratory illness, said his team is now actively developing antibodies to Covid-19, aiming to explore effective treatment methods more suitable for children under five years old in the following months. "Now the research of Covid-19 drug in this group of people is not sufficient, and it lacks sufficient safety evidence," said Zhong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "It cannot be arbitrarily inferred that children over five years old can use it, and children as young as one year old are equally applicable," he said. "Now there is no relevant evidence to support this point of view." Zhong, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Guangzhou Science and Technology Week on Saturday. He said the current Covid-19 outbreak is still at its peak period across the country and is predicted to decline after June. Zhong urged relevant departments to pay great attention to the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 and influenza, and the infected individuals to take relevant medicine within the first 48 hours to avoid developing severe symptoms. Zhong expressed regret that Taiwan actress Barbie Hsu died of influenza in February. The incidence rate of influenza has recently been declining, he said, adding that patients should attach great importance to the timely treatment of influenza, especially the elderly, he said. "Certain dangers do exist for senior residents with underlying diseases," he said. According to monitoring data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, from March 31 to May 4, the Covid-19 positivity rate among outpatient and emergency influenza-like cases nationwide increased from 7.5 per cent to 16.2 per cent, while the positivity rate of hospitalized cases also increased from 3.3 per cent to 6.3 pe rcent. Zhong, head of Guangzhou Laboratory, a key State facility focused on studying respiratory diseases, is the winner of the Medal of the Republic, China's highest honour for outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the country. - China Daily/ANN
Epoch Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
China Faces COVID-19 Resurgence With Symptoms of Sharp, Burning Sore Throat
China is experiencing a resurgence of COVID-19, with patients reporting symptoms of severe, burning throat pain, experts say. Zhong Nanshan, one of China's leading pulmonologists and epidemiologists,
