Flu cases fall to moderate level

The flu activity in China has declined to a moderate level, with positivity rates decreasing across all provincial-level regions, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the week beginning Dec 15, the flu positivity rate among all influenza-like illnesses at sentinel hospitals fell to 41.9 percent, down from 50.2 percent from the previous week, the center said on Thursday.

It noted that the flu level dropped to a moderate level in most provinces in the northern, northeastern, southwestern and northwestern regions, while most provinces in the eastern, southern and central parts of the country remained at a high level.

The number of reported infection clusters in schools also fell significantly during this period, it said, adding that the positivity rate for respiratory syncytial virus had shown an upward trend, particularly in northern provinces.

The positivity rate for rhinovirus had fluctuated, while the novel coronavirus and other monitored respiratory pathogens remained at low levels, it added.