THE worst outbreak of “walking pneumonia” seen in more than 20 years has sparked calls to don masks, as experts warn it could be spreading in schools.
Thousands of cases of the illness have been reported in Japan so far this year, with children being especially vulnerable to it.
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Nearly 6,000 cases of the condition – officially known as mycoplasma pneumonia – have been reported in the country so far this year.
This is more than 10 times the amount recorded the previous year and the highest number since records began in 1999, the Telegraph reported.
It’s particularly common among children and younger people, leading experts to warn that it can spread widely in schools, with infected children taking it home.
But Japan isn’t alone – health officials in the US and Canada recently sounded the alarm over a surge of cases, too.
Mycoplasma pneumonia infections are known as “walking pneumonia” as it takes a long time for symptoms – such as fever, cough and sore throat – to appear, meaning carriers may spread the disease widely before falling ill.
Recent data released by the Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) shows that a total of 1,195 cases were reported between October 21 and 27.
Meanwhile, NHK World Japan reported that the number of mycoplasma pneumonia cases in Japan has gradually increased since June.
Though the country typically sees a spike in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia every five years or so, the recent surge in cases has sparked concern among experts.
Representatives from the Japanese Respiratory Society and other medical associations have called for the public to don masks to curb the outbreak.
People were also urged to wash their hands thoroughly and make sure indoor spaces are ventilated – in an echo if measures instituted across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In October, health chiefs in the US reported a rise in mycoplasma pneumonia infections, especially in young children.
The increase started in the late spring but case counts have remained high since then, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
UK epidemic
As for the UK, a report released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) last month showed that “there was an epidemic period” of walking pneumonia in winter 2023/24.
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Between October 2023 and March 2024, there were 2,592 mycoplasma pneumonia detections, a substantial increase compared to 364 in the winter of 2022/23.
Six European countries and the US also saw increases in infections after October 2023.
According to the health watchdog, peaks of the bug tend to happen every four to seven years.
The last notable epidemic occurred during the winter period of 2019 and 2020 across Europe.
But the number of cases detected in January 2024 was four times higher than in January 2020, UKHSA said.
It noted that the increase in cases might be partially by changes in testing enacted during the pandemic, which saw more PCR tests being used.
Drug resistance fears
According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, a number of patients with mycoplasma pneumonia are carrying antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease.
Patients are being urged to seek further medical assistance if their symptoms persist after completing prescribed antibiotics.
However, antibiotics that bacteria are less likely to become resistant to – such as quinolone and tetracycline – may cause severe side effects in children.
Between 20 and 30 per cent of infections of mycoplasma pneumonia are resistant to antibiotics, according to data released by the Japanese NIID.
It can take one to four weeks for someone to come down with symptoms after being exposed to mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, according to the CDC.
The bacteria can cause respiratory tract infections that can damage the lining of the throat, windpipe, and lungs.
Symptoms tend to be mild compared to other types of pneumonia and can be treated with antibiotics.
But for some, mycoplasma pneumonia can lead to severe illness, hospitalisation and complications, such as deadly brain swelling called encephalitis.
What is mycoplasma pneumonia?
‘Walking pneumonia’ is caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes respiratory tract infections.
It can take one to four weeks for symptoms to appear after someone’s been exposed to the bacteria and symptoms can last for several weeks.
People with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae can seem better than expected for someone with a lung infection.
With mild symptoms, people may not stay home or in bed. Thus, the phrase “walking pneumonia” was coined.
Common symptoms include:
- Cough
- Feeling tired
- Fever and chills
- Shortness of breath
While uncommon, serious complications can occur that require hospital care.
M. pneumoniae infections can cause or make the following conditions worse:
- Asthma attacks or new asthma symptoms
- Encephalitis (swelling of the brain)
- Hemolytic anaemia (too few red blood cells delivering oxygen)
- Renal dysfunction (kidney problems)
- Serious pneumonia
- Skin disorders like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or mycoplasma-induced rash and mucositis (MIRM)
Source: CDC
