In recent times, Chinese hospitals have been inundated with an escalation of COVID-19 variant cases and a surge in other viral infections, resulting in severe overcrowding. The state of affairs is evident on Chinese social media, with users recounting their experiences of recurrent COVID-19 infections, largely blamed on the new EG.5 variant (Eris). Data from China’s National Bureau for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the prevalence of the Eris strain has alarmingly risen from 0.6% in April to 71.6% in August.
A case in point is Li Mei, a pseudonymous city-dweller from Fushun City, Liaoning Province, who spoke to The Epoch Times about being re-infected with COVID-19. An employee of a state-owned enterprise, Li Mei experienced breathlessness post-work one day and was promptly taken by her husband to the city’s third hospital. Medical tests revealed that her lung capacity was gravely compromised, a third of it turning into what’s colloquially known as ‘white lungs’. The unexpected diagnosis shook her to the core, and she battled with her infection in the hospital for two weeks. She had to rely on her contacts for high-priced imported medications, shelling out about 12,000 yuan (approx $1650 in total). Despite her significant expenditure, she believes she got by relatively inexpensively, compared to others who spent substantially more yet tragically succumbed to the illness.
She received her imported drugs (Pfizer) via a relative working in a provincial hospital’s respiratory department since they weren’t available in the open market. Despite the reduced cost, γ-globulin, an immunity-boosting drug, was expensive at its peak, costing thousands of yuan per dose, although the current price sits at around 650 yuan (about $89) per dose.
Li Mei shared that the hospital was overflowing with patients during her stay, and she witnessed two COVID-19 deaths. Reportedly, an elderly person who was continually shuttled between provincial and municipal hospitals was not admitted to the hospital she was staying at due to the management’s reticence in augmenting the hospital’s mortality rate.
In another worrying development, several southern provinces like Guangdong and Fujian have seen an uptick in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia. This acute pulmonary infection affects children primarily, requiring a bronchoalveolar washing procedure in severe cases due to its rapid progression and protracted course.
It’s not just COVID-19 and pneumonia. The worrying healthcare scenario in China is being exacerbated by other infections as well. The nation has been grappling with an outbreak of adenovirus – a common pathogenic virus causing respiratory symptoms, primarily affecting children and the elderly.
There have also been reports of a rise in monkeypox virus infections, characterised by the first-ever appearance of female cases. The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced a total of 501 recent confirmed cases across various provinces.
Further adding to the nation’s healthcare challenges is the outbreak of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection. In September, several cases of dengue fever were reported, leading to the Hainan Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a warning.
These multi-faceted and simultaneous outbreaks of various viral infections, including the dominant EG.5 variant of COVID-19, have placed an uncalled burden and untold strain on China’s healthcare system, especially hospitals.
Source: https://www.ntd.com/hospitals-overcrowd-in-china-amid-surge-in-covid-19-variants-and-other-infections_942535.html