China is facing a mysterious pneumonia outbreak affecting mostly kids

China is currently facing a mysterious pneumonia outbreak within its schools, causing hospitals to be inundated with sick children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sought detailed information about the situation in China.

What

• China has reported an influenza-like ailment predominantly affecting children, leading the WHO to request additional information from the country regarding this enigmatic outbreak.

• According to reports, Chinese hospitals are overwhelmed with sick children exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness.

• The outbreak's focal points are in Beijing and Liaoning province, where pediatric hospitals find themselves inundated with an excessive number of ailing children.

• The gravity of the situation has resulted in the suspension of classes in certain schools, as both students and teachers have fallen ill, reminiscent of the initial phases of the Covid-19 pandemic.

• WHO indicated that officials from China's National Health Commission conducted a press conference on November 13, revealing a surge in respiratory illnesses within the country. They attributed this uptick to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

• The symptoms showcased by the sick children include high fever and lung inflammation, but no cough.

⚠️UNDIAGNOSED PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK—An emerging large outbreak of pneumonia in China, with pediatric hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning overwhelmed with sick children, & many schools suspended. Beijing Children's Hospital overflowing. 🧵on what we know so far:pic.twitter.com/hmgsQO4NEZ

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 22, 2023

The current situation

• On Tuesday, ProMed, an international disease surveillance platform, raised an alert regarding an unidentified pneumonia affecting children. The origin of the current outbreak remains uncertain, and although there are no reports of it impacting adults, the swift transmission among children implies a potential connection to school environments.

• The ProMed note said, "This report suggests a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness. It is not at all clear when this outbreak started as it would be unusual for so many children to be affected so quickly."

• WHO has asked Beijing for detailed information on the situation, stating, "WHO requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism."

• WHO has recommended that individuals in China adhere to precautionary measures to minimize the risk of respiratory illness. These measures include receiving recommended vaccinations, maintaining distance from individuals who are unwell, staying home when experiencing illness, undergoing testing and seeking medical care as necessary, wearing masks when appropriate, ensuring proper ventilation, and practicing regular handwashing.

• Moreover, "We have also requested further information about recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the current burden on healthcare systems. WHO is also in contact with clinicians and scientists through our existing technical partnerships and networks in China," added WHO.