Pneumonia cases in AIIMS-Delhi not linked to surge in respiratory infections in China: Govt

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Thursday denied reports of seven pneumonia cases detected at the hospital being linked to the recent surge in mycoplasma pneumonia cases in China.

"A recent media report in a national daily has claimed that AIIMS Delhi has detected seven bacterial cases linked to the recent surge in pneumonia cases in China. The news report is ill-informed and provides misleading information," the ministry said in a statement.

“It is clarified that these seven cases have no link whatsoever to the recent surge in respiratory infections in children reported from some parts of the world, including China. The seven cases have been detected as a part of an ongoing study at AIIMS Delhi in the six month period (April to September 2023) and is no cause for worry,” the statement read.

It further stated since January till date no mycoplasma pneumonia case was detected in the 611 samples tested at the Department of Microbiology at AIIMS-Delhi.

“Since January 2023 till date, NO Mycoplasma pneumonia was detected in the 611 samples tested at the Department of Microbiology, AIIMS Delhi as a part ICMR's multiple respiratory pathogen surveillance, which included mainly severe acute respiratory illness (SARI, which comprised about 95% of these cases) by real-time PCR,” the statement further read.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is the commonest bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia. It is the reason for nearly 15-30 per cent of all such infections.

"Such a surge has not been reported from any part of India. The Union health ministry is in touch with state health authorities and is keeping a close watch on the situation on an everyday basis," the statement said.