Mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China: All you need to know

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Image source: One India


Mysterious pneumonia in China :

The World Health Organization (WHO) urged China to implement measures in response to a surge in cases of influenza-like illness reported among children.

China has documented a surge in cases of influenza-like illness, primarily affecting children, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to request additional information from the country regarding this enigmatic outbreak. Reports indicate that Chinese hospitals are grappling with an influx of unwell children exhibiting respiratory symptoms. The WHO disclosed that officials from China's National Health Commission conducted a press conference on November 12, acknowledging a rise in respiratory diseases within the nation, attributing it to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested further details regarding recent patterns in the prevalence of familiar pathogens such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for Covid-19), RSV impacting infants, and Mycoplasma pneumonia. Additionally, the organization has sought information on the extent of overcrowding within the healthcare system, as stated in the announcement.

Current Understanding of mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak in China :

  • ProMed, a publicly accessible surveillance system dedicated to global reporting of infectious disease outbreaks, issued a warning regarding "undiagnosed pneumonia" in children. Notably, ProMed had raised an alert about SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019, well before the pandemic spread globally.

  • According to a report by Taiwanese FTV News, hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning are grappling with a surge in pneumonia cases among children.


                                                             video source : X

  • As Beijing and Liaoning are separated by a distance of 800km, the enigmatic pneumonia is not being regarded as a localized outbreak.

  • Although there is limited information about the outbreak, individuals quoted by FTV mentioned that the affected children do not exhibit symptoms like coughing. Instead, they present with elevated temperatures and pulmonary nodules.

  • "The reception area of Dalian Children's Hospital is crowded with unwell children undergoing intravenous drips. Likewise, traditional Chinese medicine hospitals and central hospitals are experiencing patient queues. A staff member from Dalian Central Hospital noted, 'Patients are waiting in line for up to 2 hours, and our focus is entirely on the emergency department with no availability for general outpatient clinics,' as mentioned in the ProMed mail alert."

  • Certain educators have also contracted the infection, with reports indicating that the outbreaks are predominantly occurring within schools. Consequently, a number of schools have been closed. The precise commencement date of the outbreak remains unknown.

  • "This report indicates a pervasive outbreak of an unidentified respiratory illness... The commencement of this outbreak is uncertain, given the unusual rapidity with which a large number of children appear to have been affected," stated the ProMed communication.

  • According to a report from China Daily, "Beijing has entered the peak season for respiratory infection diseases, with multiple pathogens co-circulating," without recognizing any mysterious outbreak.

  • Experts emphasize the necessity for additional information to evaluate the situation, considering the possibilities of a new outbreak, cases of walking pneumonia, or an upsurge in respiratory diseases, especially given that this marks China's initial winter without strict Covid lockdown measures.