'Walking pneumonia' detected in Delhi not linked to pneumonia outbreak in China: Union Health Ministry

NEW DELHI: The Centre made it clear on Thursday that the claims that the child pneumonia in China has been confirmed in India were “misleading and untrue”. "It is clarified that these seven cases have no link whatsoever to the recent surge in respiratory infections in children reported from some parts of the world, including China", the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

An English media had recently reported that seven people were diagnosed with the disease at Delhi AIIMS between April and September.

The statement by the health ministry states that Mycoplasma pneumonia or 'walking pneumonia' is commonly seen in the country.

"None of the samples collected as part of surveillance have yet been confirmed to be infected. These cases have no connection with the spread of the disease in Chena and that strict monitoring is being continued," the Ministry of Health said.

Meanwhile, there are reports of a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China, spreading fears of another pandemic. The disease was first reported in northern China and is prevalent in children. Educational institutions have been closed in areas with high prevalence of the disease due to outbreaks.

The primary reported symptoms are fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. It is similar to normal pneumonia but ten times more severe. The World Health Organization is taking the new health threat very seriously considering the impact caused by the Covid pandemic which also originated in China.