Amidst concerns surrounding a mysterious outbreak of pneumonia cases in China, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a series of guidelines to help prevent the spread of the disease. The measures being recommended, such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and staying home when feeling unwell, bear a striking resemblance to the precautions taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. The outbreak was initially detected in hospitals in Beijing and Liaoning, causing an overwhelming strain on health facilities and the suspension of classes.

Chinese hospitals are overcrowded with children suffering from pneumonia due to a so-called "mixed infection" spreading widely in the capital and Liaoning region. There are concerns about a new epidemic. The World Health Organization is currently awaiting a response from China 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/Yh7aOVCoxe

— Total Randomness (@totalrondom) November 23, 2023

Infected children are reportedly experiencing lung inflammation and high fevers, but not exhibiting other symptoms typically associated with respiratory illness. The outbreak has raised concerns among health experts, reminding them of the initial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic that began in Wuhan in late 2019. The ProMed disease surveillance system has called attention to the situation and urged Chinese authorities to provide detailed information regarding the outbreak.

The WHO has also formally requested information from China and remains uncertain whether these cases are related to the broader surge in respiratory infections or if they represent new instances of a different virus. Transparency has been a topic of suspicion, as China has faced criticism in the past for downplaying the severity of similar outbreaks. Infectious disease experts stress the importance of a transparent response from China in order to effectively curb the outbreak. Until further analysis is conducted, experts are cautious about jumping to conclusions but emphasize the need for traditional sanitation practices and social distancing.