WHO concerned about pneumonia outbreak in Chinese children

The World Health Organization on November 23 demanded explanations from China over the alarming increase in pediatric pneumonia cases that are overwhelming hospitals in the north of the country. Is there a new virus that attacks children? Is a new pandemic starting?

NBC headlined that hospitals in northern China were "overwhelmed by the number of sick children." The images sparked concern in the World Health Organization.

Days earlier, the Chinese authorities themselves had admitted an extremely high increase in respiratory infections in all areas, with children in particular being highly affected. The WHO requested information on November 23, and in just 24 hours, China responded reassuringly.

As CNN reported, China clarified to the WHO that the pneumonia cases were of classic bacterial origin and that no new, unknown pathogens had been discovered.

According to CNN's translation, Chinese authorities claim they have not discovered any "new or unusual pathogens."

Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterium that can be easily treated with antibiotics, is responsible for the numerous cases of pneumonia among children in China.

The increase in the number of cases could be related to the lifting of restrictions (no longer isolating, freedom to travel, etc.) that Chinese citizens had to live with until recently to combat Covid-19.

Then, there is the reality of Chinese hospitals sometimes being unable to cope with the huge influx of patients. This conjures up images that immediately bring to mind the dark days of the Covid pandemic.

A new pandemic does not seem to be in sight, but one can always doubt the version of Chinese health authorities, who were not entirely transparent when Covid-19 emerged.

Chinese authorities called on the population to take precautionary measures. In principle, vaccination and a return to the use of masks are recommended.

The fact that the WHO made public its request to China for information about the increase in childhood pneumonia is significant.

After Covid, the WHO does not want new outbreaks to be underestimated. And for a country like China, the fact that the media knows about the WHO's vigilance means added pressure, which is never a bad thing.

Respiratory infections tend to return every winter, so there has been a significant increase in cases not only in China, but also in the United Kingdom and the United States, the BBC reports.

Paul Hunter, a professor at the University of East Anglia, also said on the BBC: "It doesn't look to me like an epidemic caused by a new virus. If it were, you would see a lot more infections in adults.

But the truth is that Covid has taught us that humanity must be prepared for new viruses to cause global pandemics.

Be that as it may, one can only rely on the medicine and monitoring work of the WHO. According to the Chinese authorities, everything is fine for now.