China warns of coming surge after pneumonia in kids

China said a surge in mycoplasma-caused pneumonia in children shows signs of ebbing, but warned that other respiratory illnesses are likely to hit the broader population hard during the mainland's first winter after covid restrictions.

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Health authorities in Beijing say flu, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus have surpassed mycoplasma as the most frequently detected pathogens among patients at the city's top paediatric medical centres.

Nearby Tianjin and Shanghai have also seen their mycoplasma positivity rates trending down in recent days, according to local media reports.

But even as the mycoplasma danger for kids subsides, China's National Health Commission said late last week that the spread of several respiratory pathogens could converge into a major outbreak between now and next spring.