Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China

After recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, China is again witnessing an unusual surge in child pneumonia cases. There has been a significant increase in the number of hospitalisation in the...

Ruby Thakur
November 25, 2023
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After recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, China is again witnessing an unusual surge in child pneumonia cases. There has been a significant increase in the number of hospitalisation in the country. The Beijing children’s hospital is seeing an average of 7,000 patients per day, which has overwhelmed the healthcare system in the country.

Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China

Why In News

After recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, China is again witnessing an unusual surge in child pneumonia cases.
There has been a significant increase in the number of hospitalisation in the country. The Beijing children’s hospital is seeing an average of 7,000 patients per day, which has overwhelmed the healthcare system in the country.

What Is Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that affects one or both lungs resulting in the filling of air sacs (alveoli) with fluid or pus caused by bacteria and viruses like RSV- respiratory syncytial virus, Adenovirus, Influenza, Rhinovirus, COVID and bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumonia.

According to health experts, one of the prime symptoms of pneumonia could be fever, sore throat, myalgia, fatigue, etc. Children suffering from this illness can also experience, cough, and breathlessness.

What’s The Outbreak

Clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China were reported by the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED), a surveillance system that conducts global reporting of infectious disease outbreaks.
The present surge in cases among children is mainly because of the spread of mycoplasma pneumonia, RSV, adenovirus, and influenza.

Recently, there has been an upsurge of influenza-like illness cases in children from Beijing and Liaoning Province of China, named ‘mysterious pneumonia’, because the definite cause is still under investigation.
Experts say the surge in cases of this ‘undiagnosed pneumonia’ could be due to a phenomenon called ‘immunity debt’ after lifting of lockdown restrictions in the peak season of respiratory illnesses.
This ‘mysterious pneumonia’ presents with high-grade fever and abnormal chest radiograph with no or minimal cough,” Chinese authorities listed mycoplasma as one of the circulating pathogens along with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

WHO’s Involvement

The WHO asked China to release information on the recent outbreak, including “additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children”.
Most of them believe that India should be prepared for the sudden surge of respiratory illnesses just like it is happening in China.

According to the WHO report, the Chinese government has identified the causes of these pneumonia cases, ruling out the presence of any new viruses or bacteria.
Consequently, there is no immediate risk of the situation spreading globally or reaching India.
While there is a sense of reassurance, it is important to remain cautious,”Moreover, people should also remain cautious about the signs and symptoms of the disease and make sure to not ignore and consult with doctors.

Here are the prime symptoms of pneumonia which is making children sick in China.
To deal with the rising cases of respiratory illnesses, which are common during winters, the World Health Organisation has advised people to take basic precautions to reduce their risk- wear masks, stay home when sick, and wash their hands regularly.
The group also underlined that there’s no need for any travel restrictions based on the current situation.

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Ruby Thakur

General Studies Lecturer SSBCrackExams, BSc In PCM, Trained Students For State Services Exams. Expertise in Geography ,Polity & Current Affairs. Love Travelling.