China faces covid-like outbreak; hospitals overwhelmed as cases surge
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Beijing: China is in the midst of an outbreak of the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), leaving hospitals and crematories overwhelmed five years after the Covid-19 pandemic, NDTV reported.
The virus, according to reports and social media posts, is spreading like wildfire with videos and images showing people thronging in hospitals.
It is also reported citing social media sources that multiple viruses such as influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19 are also in circulation compounding the situation.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that China has declared a state of emergency in order to tackle the situation.
Causing flu-like symptoms, HMPV can present symptoms similar to Covid-19 in humans.
With the hindsight of major outbreak five years ago, China’s health officials are closely monitoring the situation.
A social media post on X said: ‘China is facing a surge in multiple viruses, including Influenza A, HMPV, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Covid-19, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. Children's hospitals are particularly strained by rising pneumonia and "white lung" cases.’
Meanwhile, news agency Reuters quoted China’s disease control authority as saying that it was monitoring a pneumonia of unknown origin just as some respiratory diseases are set to rise in the winter.
Keeping in mind the shoddy preparedness for covid-19 five years ago, a dedicated system is in place to help set up protocols to handle the pathogen.
The state broadcaster CCTV reported, quoting an administration official, that the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration will create a procedure for laboratories, thus help the disease control and prevention agencies to verify and handle cases.
An official statement on Thursday said that acute respiratory diseases showcased an upward trend in overall cases from December 16 to 22.
A respiratory expert at a Shanghai hospital in a recent interview with the country’s National Business Daily warned the public against reckless use of antiviral drugs to fight human metapneumovirus.