Health officials in the US are working quickly to ascertain the white lung outbreak and whether we should be worried.
Concerns about a possible new pandemic are being raised by reports of an unexplained respiratory ailment in China. There have already been reports of cases in several US states with what some are calling “white lung syndrome,” which brings back terrifying memories of the early stages of COVID-19.
Health officials are working quickly to ascertain whether this is just the typical wintertime spike in seasonal infections or if a potentially deadly new pathogen is to blame. If the latter, there may be significant ramifications. Does history keep happening again? How soon might things get out of hand? How are you going to defend yourself?
Spike in Pediatric Pneumonia in China Hints at Possible New Contagion
An article published recently on the ProMed online reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases details how Chinese media reported that in late November, children’s hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning Province (Northern China) were overrun.
High fever and no cough have been reported as symptoms, and some kids have developed lung nodules that may be signs of bacterial infections like pneumonia.
Parents seeking treatment for their children’s illnesses continued to fill the Beijing Children’s Hospital lobby, according to the post.
The post claims that the situation in Liaoning Province is “serious,” and it shows sick youngsters receiving IV drips in the Dalian youngsters’s Hospital lobby. Patients were reportedly standing in line for two hours at Dalian Central Hospital, where a staff member claimed “We are all in the emergency department, and there are no general outpatient clinics.”
A new study published in the Cureus journal on December 7 found that 70% of deaths from the Pfizer vaccine in Japan were reported within 10 days of the jab.
Although it is relatively new, the infectious disease website FluTrackers has recorded cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterium that frequently causes pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections, as well as reports of overcrowded pediatric hospitals in China since August.
It’s possible that respiratory diseases are on the rise in China while other nations experience their first winter following COVID-19 Dr. Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease specialist with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, announced on X that 19 lockdowns had been lifted. She said, “They have already reported a surge in #Mycoplasma pneumonia, but let’s gather data as this could be anything.”
Outbreak in Ohio Started in August
The number of juvenile pneumonia cases this fall was “extremely high,” according to the Warren County Health District (WCHD) in Ohio. The approximately 145 cases that have been documented since August alone are above average and fit the state’s criteria of an outbreak.
“We do not think this is a novel/new respiratory disease but rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time,” the WCHD said.
Cough, fever, and exhaustion were the most prevalent symptoms, according to a parent questionnaire. Adenovirus, Streptococcus pneumoniae (strep), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are among the pathogens that have been identified. The way infected lungs can appear on X-rays has led some media outlets to refer to the illness as “white lung syndrome.”
According to Dr. Christopher Calandrella, chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in New York, evidence points to a combination of the same viruses that are sickening people in China.
“Additionally, China recently lifted its pandemic restrictions, and as the population begins socializing more, it may contribute to an increase in cases, similar to what was experienced here in the United States last fall,” he said.
CDC Highlights New Vaccine Options
On its website, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently said that they are keeping an eye out for reports of rising respiratory illnesses worldwide, particularly in China and Europe. The organization did note that juvenile respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, usually increase in the fall and winter.
In addition, the CDC noted that for the first time, “safe and effective immunizations” have been made available against three common viral respiratory illnesses: the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an infectious virus that can cause pneumonia and harm the lungs and airways.
China authorized the emergency use of five novel COVID-19 vaccines in light of the ongoing respiratory disease pandemic there.
According to Dr. Calandrella, there is currently no evidence that these illnesses differ from U.S. pathogens in terms of virulence or infectivity, therefore there is no need to be concerned.
Numerous important lessons were learned from COVID-19, such as the need of vaccinations, masks, and hand hygiene—all of which “can significantly reduce the risk of infections in general,” according to Dr. Calandrella.
COVID-19 Shots Linked to Pneumonia
The possibility that COVID-19 immunization is connected to these respiratory outbreaks is a factor that has not received much attention.
Following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, a list of Pfizer’s mRNA shot side effects was made public. The document listed hundreds of possible side effects from the gene-therapy-based medication, including cough, mycoplasmal bronchitis, cardio-respiratory arrest, and cardio-respiratory distress. Among these side effects is “atypical pneumonia.”
The first documented instance of organizing pneumonia, a rare lung ailment involving the airways and air sacs associated with COVID-19 immunization, was reported in a 2022 Respirology instance Reports research. A 78-year-old woman experienced breathing difficulties and a cough 10 days following her Pfizer injection.
According to additional studies, immune function in vaccinated persons is lower than in unprotected individuals eight months after the second dosage. The study’s authors concluded that “further booster vaccinations should be discontinued as a safety measure.”