China battles spike in new respiratory illness after COVID-19 pandemic

China battles spike in new respiratory illness after COVID-19 pandemic

People are once again wearing face masks as a result of a bizarre viral outbreak that is taking over several hospitals in China.

Videos of congested hospital units in China, parents waiting in lengthy lines with ailing children, and patients wearing face masks in crowded facilities have been making the rounds on social media.

Unverified reports of overcrowded crematoriums and burial homes have raised concerns and parallels to the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Local news outlets have attributed the outbreak to human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus that typically causes mild cold-like symptoms. However, Chinese health officials have not confirmed this as the cause, Dailymail reported.

The outbreak bears similarities to winter 2022/23 when mycoplasma pneumonia cases—referred to as “white lung”—spiked among children with weakened immunity due to prolonged lockdowns and school closures during the pandemic.

According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the latest outbreak is largely driven by seasonal flu. Official data indicates that 30% of tests are positive for influenza, and one in seven hospitalized with severe respiratory illnesses has tested positive for the virus.

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In its latest report, covering the week leading up to December 29, the Chinese CDC noted a rise in flu-like illnesses across the country. In northern provinces, 7.2% of outpatient visits were attributed to flu-like symptoms, a 12% increase from the previous week and higher than any corresponding week since 2021. In the south, 5.7% of outpatient visits were linked to flu-like illnesses, marking a 21% weekly increase, though still below 2022 and 2023 levels.

Videos showing overcrowded hospitals in Hunan province and other regions surfaced around New Year’s Eve. According to Aboluowang News, a US-based outlet covering China, a farmer in Hunan, identified as Mr. Peng, reported a surge in illnesses in his area.

‘A lot of people have caught colds, and most of them have [illness],’ he said in quotes translated to English.

‘About seven or eight people died this week in this area. Some were in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 40s.’

The news outlet also quoted a funeral director, Ms. Wang, who described long lines at her crematorium:

“There are long lines for cremation now,’ she said in translated quotes. Today, three VIP furnaces were opened.

“They were all burning and emitting a lot of smoke. It was terrible. If you don’t know about the crematorium, you would think it is selling New Year goods, just like holding a trade fair during the Chinese New Year.’

A Chinese video blogger, known as “Please Fei Ge,” shared his personal experience of falling ill after returning to their home province, which was not named, He said he and his wife both had a fever, body aches and headaches — and isolated from their children for three days to avoid transmitting the infection.

He was quoted saying: ‘This feeling is exactly the same as when I got “yang” back then. It’s very uncomfortable. If you still remember that feeling, wear a mask when you go out in crowded places.’

Last year, a surge in mysterious pneumonia cases among children led to similar viral videos showing packed hospitals in Beijing, China. At the time, Chinese authorities attributed the outbreak to a resurgence of diseases following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

 

China battles spike in new respiratory illness after COVID-19 pandemic