A respiratory an infection that begins in China, then spreads in Europe and results in a surge in hospital admissions. Sound acquainted?
But it is not COVID this time. It’s a bacterium known as mycoplasma pneumoniae that is behind lots of the circumstances. And it is youngsters who’re significantly affected.
So what is going on on?
The bug often causes comparatively gentle signs. It’s even known as “walking pneumonia”.
But in lots of international locations, there’s been a spike of extra severe infections.
Paediatric clinics in China have been overwhelmed, as my colleague Helen-Ann Smith has reported.
Meanwhile in Denmark, the State Serum Institute says charges are at epidemic ranges, with 541 circumstances final week, greater than 3 times the quantity in the course of October.
And within the Netherlands, circumstances have risen sharply since August, with charges already twice as excessive as the height final winter.
The rise in circumstances in so many international locations, all on the identical time, doesn’t suggest we’re within the foothills of a brand new pandemic.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is available in waves each few years, infecting youngsters with no immunity.
And immunity can be low proper now.
During the COVID lockdowns, youngsters have been shielded from infections which are usually a ceremony of passage, so that they’ve constructed up what scientists name an ‘immunity debt’.
That can result in extra severe infections.
In the UK, it resulted in a pointy rise in invasive Group A Strep final winter. Tragically some youngsters died.
And now it is a pneumonia bug in different international locations.
The World Health Organization has requested Chinese authorities for extra data on the scenario in its hospitals.
But it is a precaution, not a cause for alarm. Post-COVID, it is sensible to regulate any sudden rise in infections.
Source: information.sky.com”