New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry denied the claim that cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia have surfaced in the nation’s capital.
In a statement, the ministry clarified that the seven cases of pneumonia which were detected, as a part of an ongoing study at AIIMS Delhi, have no link with Mycoplasma pneumonia, which has led to a surge of hospitalisation due to respiratory infections in children in China.
The report further said, “Pneumonia cases in AIIMS Delhi have no link to the recent surge in respiratory infections in children in China… Since January 2023 till date, no Mycoplasma pneumonia was detected in the 611 samples tested at the Department of Microbiology, AIIMS Delhi as a part of ICMR’s multiple respiratory pathogen surveillance, which included mainly severe acute respiratory illness (SARI, which comprised 95 per cent of these cases) by real-time PCR.”
Mycoplasma pneumonia is the reason for nearly 15-30 per cent of all such infections and is caused due to bacteria. It is one of the most common types of pneumonia acquired through community transmission. However, the report again clarified that no such pneumonia cases were reported from any part of India.
Spread of respiratory illnesses in China
In late November, China reported a rise in respiratory illnesses, raising worries about a possible new pandemic. Although, this is not a new bacterium, its spread at the community level in China caused the concern.
It invades both lung areas, intensifying coughing and making it harder to breathe. It harms the lining of the respiratory system, including the throat, lungs, and windpipe. Sometimes, people can carry the bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick. Oxygen levels may drop, and if it reaches the lungs, it leads to pneumonia.
The cases of this pneumonia rise during winter, and it’s easier to catch the infection. Thus, one must avoid closed or crowded environments to prevent the disease.
