WHO demands fresh data from China amid outbreak of mystery pneumonia-like ‘white lung syndrome’
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) is demanding fresh data from China amid the worsening outbreak of a mystery pneumonia-like illness.
The country has been warned they should bring back face masks and social distancing as “white lung syndrome” grips the nation in a chilling echo of the early days of Covid.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said the agency was “following up with China” as hospitals across the country continue to be overwhelmed.
Areas in the north of the country such as Beijing and Liaoning have been hit the hardest, with reports emerging last week that hospitals in the country are “overwhelmed” with cases of sick children.
Major paediatric hospitals are seeing up to 7,000 admissions per day in some areas of Beijing, according to reports.
As the largest hospital in Tianjin — a province on the coast near Beijing — has allegedly seen more than 13,000 sick kids through its doors daily.
Health workers have also been pictured spraying down schools with disinfectant as WHO look for more information out of China.
A common bacterial infection called mycoplasma pneumoniae has circulated since May but is now showing ground glass opacity in lung scans – an indicator of severe respiratory illness.
Also known as “white lung syndrome”, many parents are deeply worried and are having to wait at least a day just for emergency care.
Dr Van Kerkhove spoke at a conference today and said: “We are following up with China. They are seeing an increase due a number of different infections.
“We are following up with our clinical network and following up with clinicians in China.
“In terms of acute respiratory infections, we are looking at the burden on healthcare systems and looking at the healthcare capacities of systems.”
Chinese Health Ministry spokesman Mi Feng also urged people to take more caution as the mystery illness continues to take over.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday he said: “Efforts should be made to increase the opening of relevant clinics and treatment areas, extend service hours and increase the supply of medicines.
“(This includes) in schools, childcare institutions and nursing homes, and to reduce the flow of people and visits.”
WHO officials have tried to calm down some of the panic and noted that they are “seeing an increase in respiratory infections around the world” but these are expected as we’re “entering winter months”.
This comes after an insider claimed Chinese officials have been ordered to downplay the outbreak.
Fears of a possible new pandemic are growing, but a member of China’s top leadership has claimed the country’s main officials have been given a “secret directive,” straight from Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Speaking to The Epoch Times, the insider said the order instructed officials to downplay the current outbreak and avoid using the term Covid-19.
Authorities have been ordered to refer to the outbreak as either mycoplasma pneumonia infection or influenza.
She said: “Major foreign media outlets stationed in Beijing also received the order which makes it clear that no interviews are allowed to report on the so-called ‘mycoplasma pneumonia infection’ or ‘influenza’.
“Domestic media are also prohibited from making any comprehensive reports on this outbreak that is just like pretending this never happened.”
The insider also reported that a number of hospitals have set up makeshift clinics to cope with the rising number of patients.
China continues to insist that flu and the usual winter bugs are to blame for the latest outbreak, rather than a new virus, and can cope with the spike in sickness.
Experts say it is too early to know for sure what is behind the surge in undiagnosed childhood pneumonia however some believe it could be caused by more than one illness.
Professor Paul Hunter, of the University of East Anglia, said: “At present there is too little information to make a definitive diagnosis of what is causing this epidemic in China.
“There may also be more than one infectious cause of the current epidemic.”
Professor Francois Balloux, of University College London, said: “The current wave in China is likely caused by different respiratory pathogens such as RSV or the flu.
“Though it is also probable that a substantial proportion of cases may be due to the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is generally fairly harmless.”
Poorly patients are reportedly suffering from a high fever and inflamed lungs but have no sign of a cough.
