China Pneumonia Outbreak: Since mid-October, northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illness compared to the same period in the previous three years, the WHO said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially sought detailed report from China on an increase in respiratory illnesses and cases of pneumonia in children. The move came after media reported that Chinese hospitals have been “overwhelmed with sick children” as an outbreak of pneumonia escalates in cities across the country, including Beijing.
In its statement, the WHO stated that Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission — during a press conference on November 23 — reported an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China.
“Chinese authorities attributed this increase to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection which typically affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19),” the WHO statement read.
Since mid-October, northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illness compared to the same period in the previous three years, the World Health Organization said.
Read More: Rishi Sunak’s 5 long-term decisions for UK and solution to a ‘national scandal’
WHO LISTS PRECAUTIONS FOR CHINESE RESIDENTS
The health organisation further said that while it seeks additional information from China, it recommends the residents of the country to take following measures:
• Reduce the risk of respiratory illness, which include recommended vaccination.
• Keep distance from people who are ill.
• Staying at home when ill.
• Getting tested and medical care as needed.
• Wearing masks appropriate.
• Ensure good ventilation.
• Regular hand-washing.
Read More: At 44.8C, Brazil Registers All-Time Highest Temperature Amid Severe Heatwave
ALL ABOUT THE NEW PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK IN CHINA
According to a report in UK-based The Telegraph, ProMed – a large, publicly available surveillance system which monitors human and animal disease outbreaks worldwide – issued a notification late on Tuesday detailing a reported epidemic of “undiagnosed pneumonia” in children.
The report stated that it was a ProMed alert in late December 2019 that brought a mystery virus later named Sars-Cov-2 to the attention of many doctors and scientists, including senior officials at the WHO
The latest post, based on a report from the Taiwanese outlet FTV News, said that hospitals in the capital Beijing and Liaoning – almost 500 miles northeast – were struggling amid an influx of children sick with pneumonia.
“Many, many are hospitalised. They don’t cough and have no symptoms. They just have a high temperature (fever) and many develop pulmonary nodules,” Wei, a Beijing citizen, was quoted by FTV News.
“Now you are not allowed to report to school. If you have any symptoms such as fever, cold, cough and then you are hospitalised, you can ask for leave,” he was quoted further.
Local media reported that the lobby of Dalian Children’s Hospital in Liaoning province was also “full of sick children” receiving intravenous drips.
“Patients have to wait in line for two hours, and we are all in the emergency department and there are no general outpatient clinics,” a hospital staff was quoted as saying.
Epidemiologist Eric-Feigl-Dingh shared videos from hospitals and messages from local residents in a long thread on X (formerly Twitter).
Read More: Pakistan’s Supreme Court Accepts Former PM Imran Khan’s Plea for Bail
IS IT ‘WALKING PNEUMONIA’? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
In an editor’s note, ProMed said the outbreak could be linked to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, also known as “walking pneumonia”, which is reportedly surging as China enters its first winter without its stringent Covid-19 lockdown in place.
The Telegraph stated that other countries, including the UK and US, saw similar surges in diseases such as RSV and flu once pandemic restrictions were lifted, as years of suppressed circulation hit immunity among the population.
Symptoms of walking pneumonia – which generally affects young children – include a sore throat, fatigue, and a lingering cough that can last for weeks or months. In severe cases, this can eventually deteriorate into pneumonia, the report mentioned.
China Daily quoted Zhou Huixia, director of the children’s medical centre at the Seventh Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, as saying: “It is the first wave of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections since most Covid-19 containment measures were lifted at the beginning of this year.”
“The wave has appeared particularly ferocious since the National Day holiday in early October. Compared to previous years, we found more patients with mixed infections, drug resistance and lobar pneumonia,” she was further quoted.
Huixia added that the “intense” wave of infections is expected to peak in November, and may coincide with an uptick in other infectious respiratory diseases that were suppressed during lockdowns.
