Amid a rise in hospitalisations of children due to pneumonia in China, India has reported no cases of mycoplasma pneumonia — the pathogen suspected to be behind the surge in China — in the 611 samples tested since January 2023.

The health ministry's statement followed a media report suggesting that between April and September 2023, AIIMS Delhi had identified seven bacterial cases associated with the recent surge in pneumonia cases in China. AIIMS did not respond to questions from Business Standard.

“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 added.