By Li Muzi, Vision Times
China is facing a surge in three simultaneous influenza strains, with the H3N2 subtype now dominating infections and overwhelming hospitals across multiple provinces. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an urgent national warning, admitting that most people have “little to no immunity” against the new H3N2 strain. The outbreak has been accompanied by reports of severe “white lung” cases, raising fears of another major public health crisis in the country.
The hashtag “new H3N2 Flu strain” surged to the top of China’s social media hot search lists on Oct. 30, reflecting widespread concern as hospitals report record patient surges, overcrowded wards, and rising cases of severe respiratory illness, including multiple instances of “white lung,” a condition linked to acute lung inflammation and viral pneumonia that can be deadly.
According to the China CDC’s weekly influenza report released on Oct. 26, between Oct. 20-26, flu activity continued to climb in southern provinces and began rising in parts of the north. A total of 144 flu outbreaks were officially reported nationwide — 113 caused by H3N2 and two by A(H1N1)pdm09.
Hospitals overwhelmed
Just a week earlier, from Oct. 13-19, there were only 49 reported outbreaks, and the week before that, a mere four cases were reported nationwide. The surge — nearly a threefold increase within seven days — underscores how quickly the virus is spreading. Experts caution that the real numbers are likely higher than what official data shows.
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The CDC defines an “influenza-like illness outbreak” as 10 or more cases occurring in the same school, workplace, or community within a week, verified by county-level disease control authorities and logged in the National Influenza Surveillance Information System.
According to state emergency radio reports, physicians warn that the H3N2 strain has replaced H1N1 as the dominant type this year — and unlike H1N1, “most people have no resistance to it.” The CDC confirmed that southern provinces are experiencing a marked rise in H3N2 cases. The change in dominant strains, experts say, is not merely a routine shift in seasonal viruses; it represents a major immunity gap among the public.
“For the majority of people, the H3N2 virus is new to their immune system,” one report noted. “Most are effectively unprotected, which could lead to significantly higher infection rates than last year.” H3N2 infections tend to be more severe than ordinary colds, often marked by sudden high fevers, along with coughing, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, and persistent headaches.
Cases of ‘white lung’ reported in Zhejiang
Reports from several provinces describe worsening outbreaks. In Kunming, local disease control officials confirmed the H3N2 strain is now spreading widely, while in Liaoning, health authorities observed a “moderate upward trend” in cases, with all samples testing positive for the H3N2 subtype.
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A particularly alarming case came from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, where a 39-year-old woman surnamed Cheng developed “white lung” syndrome after trying to recover at home instead of being hospitalized.
According to Sanqin Metropolis Daily, Cheng, who often worked late nights, was diagnosed with H3N2 but refused admission. Within three days, CT scans showed multiple areas of her lungs turning white — a sign of severe inflammation and respiratory distress.
Hospitals overwhelmed
Social media videos circulating on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok) show crowded hospitals across the country. At Ningbo Women and Children’s Hospital, wards were full with “not a single bed available.” Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Wuhan Union Hospital, and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were described as “packed with patients.”
Hospitals in Xuzhou, Hefei, and Changchun reported the same — long lines and overflowing waiting rooms. One doctor in Anhui said the outbreak felt like a “flash flood,” with pediatric and respiratory wards especially overloaded.
In response to the surge, state media urged citizens to get flu vaccinations quickly, but skepticism among netizens remains high.
- “Many people got the flu shot and still developed high fevers that wouldn’t go away,” one user complained online.
- “I got vaccinated last year and still caught the flu every month,” another said.
- “Forget it — after what happened with Sinovac, whoever wants it can have it. I’ll never trust another shot.”
Some commenters questioned whether the outbreak is truly flu-related, suspecting another wave of COVID-19 or viral mutations:
- “They’re just calling it ‘flu,’ but it’s really COVID again with a prettier name.”
- “Every year there’s a new virus — it’s just rebranding by capital interests.”
- “Will this be another coronavirus situation all over again?”
No herd immunity
According to “The Beijing News,” from Oct. 6-12, tests in southern China detected three main influenza viruses — A(H3N2), A(H1N1), and B(Victoria). Over 90 percent of flu cases nationwide were type A, and of those, more than 90 percent came back as H3N2.
Severe cases have already been reported in Hong Kong. A 2-year-old girl developed acute brain complications from influenza A and remains in critical condition. A 13-year-old girl infected with influenza B died on Oct. 12 from complications.
The rapid rise in H3N2 cases — nearly tripling within a week — suggests a significant underestimation of flu risk across China. The lack of population immunity, overwhelmed hospitals, and recurring vaccine skepticism have left the country vulnerable to another large-scale health emergency.
For many, the eerie parallels to earlier outbreaks evoke memories of COVID-19’s early days, when warnings were slow, transparency limited, and hospitals filled before the public understood the scale of the crisis.
