Another mysterious virus spreading in China. WHO seeks report. Here is all you should know
pneumonia outbreak in northern China since mid-October is causing global concern, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken note of the situation, requesting additional data from China on the respiratory illnesses spreading in the region.
Reports from ProMED, a global disease tracking entity, have highlighted «undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China.»
The outbreak originated in northern China, with a significant number of cases involving children. Hospitals in the affected areas are reportedly overwhelmed with patients displaying pneumonia-like symptoms, yet the cause remains unidentified.
Chinese health authorities, in a press conference on November 13, reported an increase in respiratory diseases in the country.
What are the symptoms:
Symptoms of the illness include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, with varying severity requiring hospitalization for some patients. Chinese authorities attribute the spike in respiratory illnesses to the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens, including influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the virus causing Covid-19.
ProMED's report on November 21 highlighted clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China, prompting the WHO to seek clarification on the relationship between this report and the Chinese authorities' press conference.
The WHO has formally requested detailed information from China, aiming to understand the nature and cause of the outbreak and assist in effective management.
