ranierean
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In Beijing and other megacities in China, hospitals are overflowing with children suffering pneumonia or similar severe ailments. However, the Chinese government claims that no new pathogen has been found and that the surge in chest infections is due simply to the usual winter coughs and colds, aggravated by the lifting of stringent COVID-19 restrictions in December 2022.
According to an article by state-owned China National Radio earlier this week, the daily patient count in the internal medicine department at Beijing Children’s Hospital topped 7,000, surpassing the hospital’s capacity.
The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) said a higher number of patients with pneumonia than expected have been visiting their GP since August, mirroring a similar surge in China.
The illness — inflammation of the lungs — is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection and gets better within two weeks. A cough, shortness of breath and a fever are tell-tale signs.
In the week ending November 16, NIVEL data shows 103 per 100,000 children aged five to 14 were diagnosed with pneumonia. At the peak last year, there were just 58 cases per 100,000.
Hazmat workers in China disinfect streets amid 'mystery' outbreak
Dutch health experts say a striking number have been sickened since rates began soaring in August, with most cases among those aged five to 14.
Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
foreignpolicy.com
A mysterious pneumonia outbreak is sweeping China. Here’s how it compares to COVID
China is confronting a wave of respiratory illness among children of uncertain cause. But unlike with COVID, officials have not detected a novel pathogen.
www.sfchronicle.com
