China faces growing health crisis amid surge in respiratory illnesses

China is grappling with a growing health crisis as hospitals are overwhelmed with patients suffering from respiratory problems, with unconfirmed reports suggesting an uptick in activity at crematoriums across the country.

Videos and testimonies circulating on social media show packed hospital wards, patients wearing masks, and long lines at pediatric departments. Local media attribute the surge to a lesser-known virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV), which typically causes mild symptoms similar to the common cold.

However, Chinese health authorities have not yet confirmed this theory. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially states that the flu is the primary cause of the outbreak. According to the CDC, 30% of tests for respiratory infections are returning positive for the flu, with one in seven patients with severe symptoms being hospitalized due to the illness.

International Concern Grows Over Viral Footage

Videos posted online around the New Year, claiming to show overcrowded hospitals in Hunan province and other regions, have sparked international concern. A farmer from Hunan, speaking to Aboluowang News, described the situation as dire: “Many people have fallen ill, and this week, about seven or eight people died in our area.”

Another source, a crematorium director who wished to remain anonymous, reported a sharp increase in demand for cremations. “There are long lines for cremation. The furnaces are operating continuously, and the situation is extremely difficult,” the source said.