Hospitals in China are overwhelmed by a mysterious viral outbreak, prompting renewed use of face masks and concerns over a new health crisis.
Videos circulating online show crowded medical units, with parents holding sick children in long queues for paediatric care late at night.
The human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been identified as a possible cause. While typically mild, it can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, especially in children.
The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact, raising alarm in densely populated areas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a rise in respiratory infections since October, with China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NCDPA) confirming a significant increase in cases from December 16 to 22.
The NCDPA has implemented a pilot system to monitor pneumonia cases of unknown origin.
Although claims of overcrowded hospitals are widespread on social media, authorities have not declared the situation critical. Vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly, remain at the highest risk.
The WHO has also urged China to release more data on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan in 2020 and caused an estimated seven million deaths worldwide.
Concerns linger as parallels to the pandemic’s early days emerge.
