Accurate information about the outbreak of viral pneumonia in humans in China

The Department of Preventive Medicine ( Ministry of Health ) said it will continue to closely monitor the developments of the epidemic situation to update and proactively provide and share complete and accurate information.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine , on January 2, 2025, a number of foreign websites reported on an outbreak of disease in China with many cases of pneumonia caused by the virus that causes pneumonia in humans (Human Metapneumovirus - HMPV) and stated that the disease spread rapidly with symptoms similar to the flu and at the same time worried about another health crisis after Covid-19.

Thông tin chính xác về dịch bệnh do virus gây viêm phổi trên người tại Trung Quốc

Up to now, the World Health Organization has no official information about the epidemic situation in China. (Source: VNA)

In addition, many images of overloaded hospitals in China due to virus infections and information about the declaration of a state of emergency or overloaded crematoriums were also shared on social networking sites.

Immediately after receiving the above information, the Department of Preventive Medicine contacted the World Health Organization (WHO - in Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region) and the Focal Point for the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) of China (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

Accordingly, up to now, WHO has not had any official information about the epidemic situation in China; at the same time, it has not verified the reliability and authenticity of the information on the above-mentioned press and social media channels.

According to the report on the results of the key surveillance of acute respiratory infectious diseases in week 52 of 2024 by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the main pathogens found in specimens collected from outpatient departments and emergency departments of hospitals were influenza virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and rhinovirus; specimens from cases of severe acute respiratory infections requiring hospitalization were mainly influenza virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

In China, it is currently winter, and respiratory diseases tend to increase during this time, including the main agents being seasonal influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus in children (RSV), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).

On January 4, 2025, the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed that the respiratory infection spreading in the country is a routine disease, not an unusual medical event, and that respiratory infections usually peak at this time of year in the country.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine, based on information recorded from the event-based surveillance system, the Department of Preventive Medicine has proactively monitored and supervised information on the development of respiratory diseases in China.

The Department of Preventive Medicine will continue to closely monitor the developments of the epidemic situation; closely coordinate with WHO, the focal point for implementing IHR in China, to update information and proactively provide and share complete and accurate information, not to cause panic or anxiety, but at the same time not to be subjective or negligent in the face of developments of the epidemic situation, especially in the current winter-spring period with favorable weather conditions for respiratory pathogens to spread.

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