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Hospitals in China are grappling with a surge in respiratory illnesses, sparking fears of a potential new outbreak and prompting many to revert to wearing face masks.
Social media videos depict overcrowded hospital wards, long queues of parents with sick children, and masked patients packed into medical facilities.
Unverified claims suggest crematoriums and funeral homes are overwhelmed, drawing comparisons to the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.
According to Daily Mail on Friday, local media attribute the outbreak to human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a virus known for causing mild, cold-like symptoms. However, Chinese health officials have not confirmed HMPV as the definitive cause.
This wave resembles the winter of 2022/23 when cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, also referred to as “white lung,” spiked among children with weakened immunity following prolonged lockdowns and school closures during the pandemic.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified seasonal influenza as the primary driver of the current outbreak. Official data reveals that 30% of tests are influenza-positive, while one in seven patients hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms has tested positive for the flu.
In its latest weekly report leading up to December 29, the Chinese CDC noted a nationwide rise in flu-like illnesses. In northern regions, 7.2% of outpatient visits were for flu-related symptoms—a 12% increase compared to the previous week and the highest rate for this period since 2021. Meanwhile, in southern provinces, 5.7% of outpatient visits were flu-related, reflecting a 21% week-on-week rise, though still below 2022 and 2023 levels.
Videos from Hunan Province and other areas emerged around New Year’s Eve, highlighting overcrowded hospitals. Aboluowang News, a U.S.-based outlet, reported on a farmer, Mr. Peng, who described widespread illnesses in his community.
“Many people have caught colds, and most of them are very ill,” he said in translated comments. “This week, about seven or eight people in this area have died, ranging from their 40s to their 80s.”
The outlet also quoted Ms. Wang, a funeral director, who noted unusually long lines at her crematorium:
“Cremations are taking much longer now,” she said. “We’ve opened three VIP furnaces, all running non-stop and emitting thick smoke. If someone didn’t know, they might think it’s a New Year trade fair.”
A Chinese video blogger, known as “Please Fei Ge,” shared his experience of falling ill after traveling to his home province. He described symptoms such as fever, body aches, and headaches, leading him and his wife to self-isolate from their children for three days to prevent spreading the illness.
“This feels exactly like when I got sick during the COVID wave,” he said in a translated statement. “It’s very uncomfortable. If you remember that feeling, wear a mask when going to crowded places.”
Last year, a similar wave of mysterious pneumonia cases in children led to viral videos of overcrowded hospitals in Beijing. At the time, authorities attributed the surge to a resurgence of infections following the easing of pandemic restrictions.
