Denmark and US hit by surge of pneumonia cases as similar ‘white lung syndrome’ plagues China and sweeps Europe

"AN alarming spike in pneumonia cases have been detected in the US and Denmark,

echoing a similar surge in China.
It comes just as the Netherlands reported a stark rise in cases of a similar respiratory virus in children. Some 142 children have been sickened by the illness in Warren County, Ohio, between August and October this year, US health officials said.
In a joint statement, health commissioner Duane Stansbury, and Doctor Clint Koenig, of Ohio Health Riverside Methodist Hospital, called the local surge an "outbreak".
They said: "We do not think this is a new respiratory disease but rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time."
The average age of those infected was eight years old. Meanwhile, Denmark is battling its own pneumonia cluster.
There were 541 cases of mycoplasma pneumonia - a mild type version of the disease - in the week ending November 26.
This was up 222 per cent from the 168 recorded five weeks earlier, during the week ending October 22, data from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) in Copenhagen showed.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is sometimes referred to as white lung syndrome because of the way lung damage shows up on scans.
However, Hanne-Dorthe said the rise in cases was expected, as immunity against the bugs dropped across populations during Covid lockdowns.
She said: "For the past four years, the number of mycoplasma infections has been extremely low, and it is not unusual that we have an epidemic now. We have actually been waiting for it since we closed the country after the Covid-19 pandemic."
Pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs — is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection and gets better within two weeks.
However, some people can become very unwell, especially the over 65s, babies or young children and those with lung conditions.
The surge mirrors events unfolding in China, where an unspecified virus is infecting hundreds of children.
Hospitals in Beijing are overflowing with youngsters lying on floors while hooked up to IVs after showing symptoms such as inflammation in the lungs and a high fever, but no cough.
This, and rising case numbers in the Netherlands, has sparked fears other countries, including the UK, could be impacted over Christmas." TheSun