Beijing, Nov 25: A surge in respiratory illnesses in northern China, particularly among children, has led to speculation about a new pandemic threat, reminiscent of the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak four years ago.
However, Chinese health authorities attribute the rise in infections to a combination of known viruses, coinciding with the country’s first full cold season after lifting strict COVID-19 restrictions in December last year. Despite the unclear situation, experts suggest there is little evidence to indicate the presence of a new virus.
On November 13, China’s National Health Commission reported a notable increase in respiratory illnesses, predominantly affecting children.
Authorities link the surge to the end of COVID-19 restrictions, the onset of the cold season, and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19.
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Reports from ProMED, a public disease surveillance system, highlighted overwhelmed hospitals in China, particularly in Beijing and the northeastern Liaoning province, due to a pneumonia outbreak among children. Symptoms include fever, lung inflammation without a cough, and pulmonary nodules, with no reported deaths.
Concerns on social media and memories of the COVID-19 pandemic led to fears of a “new virus coming from China.” The World Health Organization (WHO), which had criticized China for transparency issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, requested more information about children with “undiagnosed pneumonia.”
China responded, stating there is no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens, and the WHO noted that China closely monitors virus trends and began monitoring mycoplasma pneumonia in mid-October.
While limited detailed information is available, the WHO emphasized the expected increase in respiratory illnesses with the onset of winter, urging caution in characterizing the overall risk of reported cases in children.
