“Pediatric Waiting List of 1,000 People”… China in ‘Chaos’ with Flu Outbreak Ahead of Lunar New Year

This image is not directly related to the article. A children’s hospital in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, is crowded with patients and their guardians waiting for consultations. [Photo source = Yonhap News], ‘As the flu (influenza) spreads rapidly in China, more than 1,000 patients were reportedly waiting for a consultation at a pediatric clinic in Beijing, according to the Hong Kong Sing Tao Daily on the 10th.’,
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, ‘According to the report, Mr. Yang, a resident of Beijing, took his child to a local hospital after developing cough and fever symptoms following their return from a trip on the 19th of last month.’,
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, ‘When the symptoms did not improve, they visited Wangjing Hospital in Beijing again four days later, but the high fever resumed after returning home from the hospital.’,
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, ‘Mr. Yang went to another hospital on the same afternoon but left after being told there would be at least a 2∼3 hour wait in the emergency room.’,
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, ‘Unable to receive treatment at another hospital either, he ended up heading to a pediatric hospital offering night consultations at 9 PM local time.’,
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, ‘Mr. Yang said, “When registering at the pediatric hospital, the ticket number showed 1000,” and added, “It was well past midnight when the tests were finished and we stood in line again after being diagnosed with type A influenza.”‘,
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, ‘The previous day, China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that over 99% of flu infections in China were of type A. With the surge in flu cases, there are frequent shortages of medication due to panic buying.’,
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, ‘A Chinese netizen noted, “The rush to buy flu medication is as intense as the shopping festival Singles’ Day on November 11.”‘,
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, ‘The influenza treatment Baloxavir Marboxil, sold under the name “Zofluza,” which has been traded in sets of two 20mg tablets for 222 yuan (about 44,000 won) is now being sold for over 300 yuan (about 60,000 won) in some online markets.’,
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, ‘Chinese authorities recently stated that the positivity rate for the influenza virus is slowing down, projecting that viral activity will peak by mid to late this month.’,
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, ‘However, with the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) approaching, during which a cumulative total of 9 billion people are anticipated to travel, experts predict that the special transportation period (Chunyun, January 14th to February 22nd) could be a critical point.’,
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