A new viral outbreak is spreading across China, leaving hospitals overwhelmed and making people dig out their face masks again. The last time we saw a viral outbreak of this magnitude, it was COVID-19, and now, people can’t help but wonder, could this be another round of global pandemic?
Videos making the rounds on social media show hospitals filled to the brim with sick patients, especially children, and long lines of anxious parents. But it’s not just the hospitals that are feeling the pressure. Unconfirmed reports are emerging about overwhelmed crematoriums and funeral homes, leading to some very strange comparisons with the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. The type that would make you say “God abeg”
Local news outlets have pointed the finger at human metapneumovirus (HMPV) as the likely cause of the outbreak. For those not familiar, HMPV is a virus that typically causes mild symptoms similar to a cold. But, unsurprisingly, Chinese health authorities have been tight-lipped and haven’t officially confirmed this as the culprit.
This outbreak seems eerily reminiscent of what happened in the winter of 2022-2023, when mycoplasma pneumonia infamously known as “white lung” rocketed among children, whose immunity had taken a severe hit from the lockdowns and school closures. And as usual, China’s government has been quick to blame the seasonal flu, which, in their words, is the main driver of the current chaos. According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30% of tests have been positive for influenza, and one in seven people hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms tested positive for the virus. Well, to me that screams “serious health situation.”
In fact, the latest report from the CDC covering the week leading up to December 29, 2024 revealed an alarming rise in flu-like illnesses across the country. In northern China, outpatient visits related to flu-like symptoms spiked by 12% compared to the previous week, marking the highest level since 2021. And, the southern provinces saw a 21% increase in such visits, though they still remained below levels seen in 2022 and 2023.
By New Year’s Eve, the situation in places like Hunan province looked very serious. Reports from that place doesn’t speak good, A local farmer, Mr. Peng, shared his distress, saying, “A lot of people have caught colds, and most of them have [illness]. About seven or eight people died this week in this area. Some were in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 40s.” A funeral director from the same area, Ms. Wang, described scenes at her crematorium that seems like horror. “There are long lines for cremation now,” she said. “Today, three VIP furnaces were opened. They were all burning and emitting a lot of smoke. It was terrible. If you don’t know about the crematorium, you would think it is selling New Year goods, just like holding a trade fair during the Chinese New Year.”
A video blogger, “Please Fei Ge,” shared his own experience of falling ill after returning to his home province, which was unnamed. He and his wife both suffered from fever, body aches, and headaches, eventually isolating themselves from their children to prevent transmission. A nation that fought its way through a pandemic now facing an entirely new challenge, forcing its citizens to return to self-imposed isolation once again.
China’s ongoing health issues could be a warning for the world. Everyone should take note!
