In a disturbing echo of the dark days of Covid, hospitals in China are being overwhelmed by a mystery disease outbreak

There are reports that a mysterious viral outbreak is causing havoc in China, causing some institutions to be overrun.

Social media videos appear to depict hospital units that are overrun with patients wearing face masks, and that parents are holding sick children in long queues in pediatric units.

Additionally, there have been unverified allegations that crematoriums and funeral homes are experiencing an overflow.

The absence of official commentary and the alarming scenarios have prompted some to draw comparisons to the initial stages of the Covid-19 outbreak in China.

The most recent outbreak has been attributed to a virus known as human metapneumovirus (HMPV) by local news outlets. HMPV typically results in a mild cold-like illness; however, officials have yet to substantiate this.

The situation is comparable to that of winter 2022/23, when China was struck by a spate of mycoplasma pneumonia cases, a condition known as “white lung” that is typically mild.

The outbreak was attributed to the low natural immunity of children, which was a result of the severe lockdowns and school closures implemented in China to contain Covid-19.

However, the most recent outbreak is being driven by the common cold, according to official reports from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty percent of the tests returned positive for influenza, and one in seven individuals hospitalized with a severe respiratory ailment tested positive for it.