Coronavirus subvariants spread raises concerns: From China to Iran, citizens urged to wear masks
The head of Iran's Ministry of Health Infectious Disease Management Center has issued a warning about the increasing prevalence of respiratory illnesses in China, including influenza and new strains of the coronavirus.
Shahnam Arashi urged citizens to wear masks in public spaces to mitigate the spread.
While specifics about the new coronavirus strains in Iran were not provided, the World Health Organization declared the EG.5 subvariant on August 18, predominantly affecting the United States and China.
In Iran, influenza has surged in the last six weeks, resulting in two-thirds of hospitalizations in respiratory disease centers.
Meanwhile, northern China has witnessed a rise in influenza-like diseases and pneumonia in children, attributed to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Concerns about global pandemic risks have grown amid calls for increased transparency in reporting respiratory disease cases, echoing past doubts about information disclosure related to the initial COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China.
