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In recent news, Denmark and the Netherlands have both reported outbreaks of pneumonia in children, following a similar occurrence in China.
Avian Flu Diary, a blog covering infectious diseases, highlighted a surge in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, reaching epidemic levels. The rise began in summer and has notably escalated over the past five weeks.
Denmark’s Statens Serum Institute has labeled the situation an epidemic, with a substantial spike in new cases. Senior researcher Hanne-Dorthe Emborg emphasized the significant increase, citing 541 new cases detected in week 47, a stark rise from the 168 cases recorded in week 42.
Emborg acknowledged that the actual number of cases could be much higher as not everyone with mild symptoms undergoes testing. However, she mentioned that Denmark historically experiences nationwide epidemics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections approximately every four years, often peaking in autumn and early winter.
Emborg clarified that these occurrences weren’t unexpected, given the low incidence of mycoplasma infections in the past four years and the anticipation following the COVID-19 pandemic’s containment measures.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae typically manifests as mild flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, headache, sore throat, and a prolonged dry cough, especially at night. Most individuals experience a fever, although generally not as high as with influenza or more traditional pneumonia cases.
The infection has gained nicknames like ‘cold pneumonia’ or ‘atypical pneumonia’ due to its resistance to regular penicillin treatment, as highlighted in the post.
Similarly, the Netherlands reported a notable increase in pneumonia cases among children and young people since August, as detailed in a government surveillance report on FluTrackers. According to the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), cases rose to 103 per 100,000 children aged 5 to 14, marking a 24% increase from the previous seven days.
NIVEL noted that this is the most significant outbreak of pneumonia recorded in recent years, surpassing the 2022 peak flu season average of 58 cases among children.
Furthermore, recent reports in The Lancet indicate a resurgence of Mycoplasma pneumonia cases post-COVID in various countries, including Singapore and Sweden, since April.
The surge in respiratory infections in China, attributed to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, initially sparked concerns of a novel pathogen. However, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization that no new pathogens were detected; instead, seasonal viruses like the flu, RSV, and the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae were identified as the causes behind the illnesses.
