The alarms in the World Health Organization (WHO) They were ignited by the collapse of several hospitals in China due to a mysterious childhood pneumonia, which is leaving many minors hospitalized in its wake. Given the concern it has generated, we tell you what is known about this outbreak.
It should be noted that on November 13, the National Health Commission of China had reported in a press conference about an increase in respiratory diseases.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS CHILDREN’S PNEUMONIA IN CHINA
According to a report from Emerging Diseases Monitoring Program (ProMED)on November 19, 2023, Clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China, specifically in Beijing and Liaoning Citywhich are 800 kilometers away.
This has led to the level of absenteeism in schools increasing; In fact, when it is known that a student is sick, classes are suspended for a week. Added to all this is that winter could contribute to the spread of the disease, Katrina Yu, Al Jazeera correspondent, reported from Beijing.
For his part, the director of the Genetic Institute at University College London, Francois Belloux, explained the outlook regarding “undiagnosed pneumonia in children in China.” “I am aware that no new evidence has emerged as that would require me to update it”he wrote on his X account on November 22, 2023.
The specialist mentions that China would be paying a “immunity debt” after confinement “which must have reduced the circulation of respiratory bacteria and, therefore, decreased immunity to endemic bacteria”.
Likewise, he indicated, according to the data he manages, that ““There is no reason to suspect the emergence of a new pathogen.”so he pointed out that Mycoplasma pneumoniae would be the source of most cases and a bacteria that normally affects younger children, which in itself is “pretty harmless”.
For Laith Abu-Raddad, professor of health policy and research at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar, although there is the possibility of the presence of a new pathogen, the outbreak could also be due to “an existing but recently mutated pathogen with modified characteristics and severity”specifies the (ProMED) report.
THE SYMPTOMS THAT CHILDREN HAVE PRESENTED IN CHINA
Unusual symptoms of mysterious childhood pneumonia include inflammation of the lungs and a high fever, but no cough or other flu-related symptoms.
Due to this, the WHO asked the population to take protective measures to avoid contagion in more minors.