In November 2023, China's health authorities reported an outbreak of respiratory illnesses in several parts of northern China.[1] As hospitals became overwhelmed in Beijing and Liaoning,[2] the World Health Organization (WHO) requested detailed information from China regarding the surges in respiratory health, while advising the community to take important precautions.[3] China complied, responding that "no unusual or novel pathogens were found" in the provided data.[4]
| 2023 Chinese pneumonia outbreak | |
|---|---|
.svg) Map of Liaoning, a province affected by the outbreak | |
| Disease | Pneumonia |
| Location | northern China |
| Index case | Dalian, China |
| Date | November 2023 – 2024 |
As of 23 November 2023[update], the cause of the outbreak is unknown. Possible reasons include known seasonal diseases and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.[4]
Timeline
editMay–October 2023
editAs reported in China Daily, an increase of mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in China was observed in May 2023 by Zhou Huixia, director of a children's medical centre, with a "rapid increase" in August and a "particularly ferocious" wave starting in early October. On 24 October 2023, Zhou predicted that the wave would peak in November.[5]
November 2023
editOn 13 November, authorities from China's National Health Commission reported an increase in respiratory diseases. The increase in these diseases was attributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions earlier in the year, and the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection typically affecting young children), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2.[6]
On 21 November, ProMED reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. It is unclear if these are associated with the overall increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities or separate events. Further information about recent trends in these known pathogens was requested by the WHO.[6] The WHO stated that during October and November, northern China had reported an "increase in influenza-like illness" compared to the corresponding period during the previous three years.[7]
On 23 November, Chinese health authorities claimed that the increase in respiratory diseases was not attributed to any novel or unknown pathogens but was relevant to known pathogens. Later, WHO verifies that no novel or unknown pathogens have been discovered so far, and the clinical features of the diseases are not unusual.[8]
On 27 November, a journal article published in Nature indicated that there are many multiple anomalies behind the dramatic increase in respiratory disease cases in China. First, usually, the infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is easy to treat, but, in this case in China, the infection causes serious impact on Chinese children. Second, after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, cases reported by some of the countries are virus infections; in contrast, the major cases reported by China, particularly, are mycoplasma pneumoniae, a disease whose infection is caused by bacteria.[9]
Other pneumonia outbreaks in late 2023
editIn late November 2023, Russian children's hospitals and infectious diseases hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg noticed a significant increase of mycoplasma pneumonia in patients with acute respiratory infections. The outbreak will likely complicate already expected epidemics such as those caused by the coronavirus, influenza A and respiratory syncytial viruses.[10] As of December, large queues of ambulances have been reported to have formed in front of Infectious Diseases Hospitals No. 1 and No. 2 in Moscow.[11]
A similar outbreak occurred in Ohio in the United States in late 2023. As of December 2023, Céline Gounder, an infectious disease specialist stated that the outbreaks were similar but unrelated.[12]
Denmark reported an pneumonia outbreak. As of November 2023, 541 cases had been identified. [13]
The Philippines Department of Health reported four confirmed cases of mycoplasma pneumoniae among reported influenza-like illnesses as of 25 November.[14]
References
edit- ^ "WHO asks China for details on respiratory illness outbreaks". Reuters. 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Large outbreak of pneumonia in China, pediatric hospitals in Beijing, Liaoning overwhelmed | Forexlive". Forexlive | Forex News, Technical Analysis & Trading Tools. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "WHO advises Chinese to take measures amid respiratoy illness spike". The Times of India. Agence France-Presse. 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b Beasley, Deena; Silver, Andrew; Rigby, Jennifer; Farge, Emma; Birsel, Robert; Kim, Miyoung; Kao, Josie. "China says no unusual pathogens found after WHO queries respiratory outbreaks". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Calm urged as pneumonia cases in children increase". China Daily. 24 October 2023. ISSN 0253-9543. Wikidata Q123559915. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023.
- ^ a b "WHO statement on reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China". WHO. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Chatterjee, Phelan; Walsh, Fergus; Mazumdar, Tulip (23 November 2023). "China says no 'unusual or novel pathogens' after WHO queries respiratory outbreaks". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ Chakraborty, Deblina (28 November 2023). "How concerning is the spike in respiratory illnesses in China? A doctor explains". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ Conroy, Gemma (27 November 2023). "What's behind China's mysterious wave of childhood pneumonia?". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-03732-w. PMID 38012356. S2CID 265464001. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Maria Frolova, Andrey Korshunov, Yana Sturma (6 December 2023). "Болеют дети: в России выросло число случаев микоплазменной пневмонии" [Children are getting sick: The number of cases of mycoplasma pneumonia has increased in Russia]. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Russia Denies Mystery Virus Outbreak as Video Shows Row of Ambulances". newsweek.com. 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Ohio "white lung" pneumonia cases not linked to China outbreak or novel pathogen, experts say - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 1 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Denmark reports Mycoplasma pneumonia epidemic". 30 November 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "4 cases of walking pneumonia detected in Philippines: DOH". 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.