Chinese health experts are hoping a mystery virus outbreak is about to peak as a flood of patients puts hospitals under strain across the country
22:06, 05 Dec 2025Updated 22:23, 05 Dec 2025
China hopes a virus outbreak currently testing its hospitals is about to peak
China’s flu activity is poised to peak by mid-December, a researcher at the the country’s centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) has announced.
Wang Dayan spoke at a news conference on Friday as 17 provincial-level regions report high flu activity, with the rest at medium levels, amid reports of hospital corridors packed with kids and a 500% surge in antiviral drug purchases
Reports describe the outbreak as not a typical winter flu variety. The researcher said that patients with flu-like symptoms are testing positive for flu in 51% of cases, below the highest levels in the past three years. Clustered infections in schools continue to rise, with children aged 5 to 14 hit much harder than other age groups.
Kids aged 5 to 14 are hit hardest by the flu now rampaging through China, with at least one death reported
The H3N2 subtype of influenza A remains dominant, accounting for over 95% of cases, while small numbers of the H1N1 subtype of A and B cases also detected.
The many hospitals affected extend from major cities like Beijing and Tianjin to provinces including Hebei, Henan, Guangdong, Fujian, Shandong, Shanxi and beyond.
Concerns over an epidemic intensified after Peng Zhibin, a specialist at the China CDC, said China’s flu infection rate had rocketed in late November. Social media shared alarming scenes of youngsters queuing in hallways as hospital reception areas become packed.
Researchers blame the outbreak on Influenza A and haven’t found any other respiratory diseases alongside it (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A Chinese resident wrote on social media: “On the evening of November 23rd, around 8 PM, I went to the Beijing Children’s Hospital, and didn’t get home until 1 AM. The flu has been so terrifying lately,” reports the Mirror.
Statistics from the Alibaba Health platform show purchases of flu antiviral medications soared 500% during November 10-21, sparking fears of a major epidemic.
Seventeen provinces in China are experiencing elevated flu rates according to China Central Television (CCTV) and the China CDC. The Beijing CDC has reported that the city’s flu activity is at a peak but the rise is slowing, according to Beijing Daily.
Dr Zhang Datao, director of the institute for infectious and endemic disease control at the Beijing CDC, said the surge is led by Influenza A virus, also known as H3N2. No other respiratory infectious diseases have been identified alongside it as the main cause of the seasonal outbreak, he said.
The virus outbreak has mainly affected kids aged 5-14, with most outbreaks in educational and childcare settings. Official sources have confirmed that one child has died after contracting influenza A.
Influenza A is an airborne flu-like virus, presenting symptoms such as high temperatures, coughing, loss of appetite, and general aches and pains.
In more severe cases, the virus can lead to pneumonia and can prove fatal for individuals in high-risk demographics or those with compromised immune systems. Dr Zhang noted that the virus is prone to mutation, which triggers annual influenza outbreaks.
But Dr Zhang said these outbreaks remain a seasonal epidemic and show no signs of getting stronger. In response to the outbreak, China’s National Health Commission has told local authorities to increase the supply of medical services.
The fresh initiatives include more outpatient appointments and longer service hours. Local health bodies have also set up clinics with longer operating hours, including evening and weekend sessions, to meet the public’s healthcare needs.
Despite escalating infection rates throughout China, both the China CDC and the Communist Party have stated that no significant mutations have yet been detected in the H3N2 influenza virus.
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