Massachusetts has become the second US state to report a large uptick in the number of child pneumonia cases amid a mysterious viral outbreak in China

Massachusetts has become the second US state to report a large uptick in the number of child pneumonia cases amid a mysterious viral outbreak in China, per NYP.

Physicians in Massachusetts have observed a surge in cases, coinciding with Ohio reporting sufficient cases to meet its outbreak criteria. However, doctors in western Massachusetts primarily attribute the rise to RSV, a respiratory virus responsible for over 10,000 American deaths annually, particularly affecting young children and the elderly.

Dr. John Kelly from Redwood Pediatrics in East Longmeadow stated, “This is the season for RSV, and we’re seeing a whole lot of it…a lot of kids with upper viral respiratory infections, cough, runny nose, some fevers.” He emphasized that RSV can lead to lower viral respiratory infections, affecting the lungs. Although most patients recover within a few days, he cautioned that there are no specific medications to cure it, requiring supportive care.

In Ohio, the Warren County Health District recorded 142 pneumonia cases in children since August, surpassing the county's usual average. Officials, however, believe it is not a new respiratory disease but rather a substantial increase in pneumonia cases. The illness has spread across multiple school districts, with the average age of those affected being 8.

Despite the rise in pneumonia cases, both at the state and national levels, federal officials currently do not see a connection between these cases in the United States and the mysterious illness reported in China.