The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked China for more information on “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia” reportedly spreading among children in the north of the country.

Non-state media reports say paediatric hospitals in parts of China are overwhelmed with sick children.

Chinese authorities have attributed a spike in flu-like illnesses this winter to the lifting of Covid measures.

The WHO is urging people in China to take measures to reduce transmission.

In a statement, the UN health agency says it wants more information on reports in the media and from ProMed - a global outbreak surveillance system - of “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China”.