The Chinese health commission said the recent surge in acute respiratory infections across the country is caused by a combination of pathogens. The Chinese government is trying to ease concerns that a novel virus could be the source of the surge.
The National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng told media personnel at a press conference on Sunday that influenza is one of the main causes of the spike in cases. He said rhinovirus, mycoplasma pneumoniae and respiratory syncytial virus are also circulating. Feng said the Chinese government will guarantee medicine supply and open more areas for medical treatment.
On November 13, China’s National Health Commission reported a surge of respiratory illnesses, mostly in children. On Monday, the public disease surveillance system ProMED — which once issued an early warning about mysterious pneumonia cases that turned out to be Covid — reported that some Chinese hospitals were “overwhelmed with sick children” due to a pneumonia outbreak, according to a report by AFP.
The outbreak has affected children particularly and anxious parents have had to wait for hours for a doctor consultation. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Beijing Children’s Hospital told the World Health Organization on Thursday that there has been a spike in outpatient visits and hospitalizations but the sources of the illnesses are all known germs.
The WHO urged more information from China on the situation after it received a report on undiagnosed pneumonia in children’s hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning and other cities. China said that the level of illness may be high for this time of the year but it is not unusual for people to contract respiratory diseases during the winter season.
The government has advised people to take basic precautions and reduce risks. It also said that there is no need to impose travel restrictions based on the current situation.
Chinese doctors for weeks have warned about a surge in “walking pneumonia” cases. Chinese media outlets have also reported a steady rise in infections from mycoplasma among kindergarten and primary school children.
The disease does not lead to serious cough and cold in older kids and adults with robust immune systems but younger children are susceptible to pneumonia and their symptoms could last for weeks.
(with inputs from Bloomberg)