Child Pneumonia Cases Overwhelm Chinese Hospitals, Alarming the WHO

The WHO and the global pandemic surveillance system have issued statements to alert of an ‘undiagnosed pneumonia’ outbreak in China.

Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area at a children hospital in Beijing on Nov. 23, 2023. Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images

Chinese hospitals have been overwhelmed with children infected with pneumonia as respiratory illness outbreaks spike across the country. It’s reported that a large number of medical staff have also been infected.

Since mid-October, many children have been infected with pneumonia, having fever, and even exhibiting white lung symptoms as seen from serious COVID-19 infections in various regions in China. The cases skyrocketed further in November, overwhelming hospitals.