Health Ministry dismisses link between AIIMS pneumonia cases with China’s infection surge

New Delhi, Dec 7: In response to recent media reports suggesting a connection between bacterial cases detected at AIIMS Delhi and the surge in pneumonia cases in China, health authorities have issued a clarification to dispel misinformation.

Contrary to the media claims, the seven bacterial cases identified at AIIMS Delhi are unrelated to the recent upswing in respiratory infections among children in China. The cases were part of an ongoing study conducted between April and September 2023, with no direct correlation to the global respiratory infection trends, the officials said.

Officials emphasize that there is no cause for concern regarding these cases, as they are not indicative of any widespread outbreak. Importantly, no instances of Mycoplasma pneumonia, the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia, have been detected in the samples tested at the Department of Microbiology, AIIMS Delhi, from January 2023 to date.

The testing, conducted as part of the ICMR's multiple respiratory pathogen surveillance, included mainly severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases, comprising approximately 95% of the samples. The absence of Mycoplasma pneumonia in these samples underscores that the surge reported in certain regions, notably China, has not been mirrored in India.

The Union Health Ministry remains vigilant, closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with state health authorities. They stress that, as of now, there is no evidence of a Mycoplasma pneumonia surge in India, and citizens are advised against undue concern. The clarification aims to foster accurate understanding and alleviate any unwarranted fears among the public.