Will New Strain of Pneumonia in Ohio Infect Michigan Children?

Just when you thought there weren't enough ways for kids to get sick another new type of pneumonia has been infecting Ohio children and kids in Michigan could be next.

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What is White Lung Syndrome?

We have the flu, pneumonia, strep throat, and COVID-19 to worry about our kids and ourselves catching, and now something is going on in Ohio that has doctors and parents scratching their heads.

There is a strain of pneumonia dubbed "white lung syndrome" that has infected 142 children in one county of Ohio. The infections began in August but have been increasing each month as temperatures have dropped.

To be clear, "White Lung Syndrome" is not an official medical term, but some health officials are using it to describe a spike in pediatric pneumonia going around in Ohio that is similar to a problem found in China.

Where is White Lung Syndrome Currently and Should Michiganders be Alarmed?

Warren County, Ohio, is located in the southwest corner of the state. Just east of Indiana, and north of Kentucky. Those two states right now have more to be concerned about than Michigan but both Ohio and Indiana border Michigan so the spread of this pneumonia could easily cross the border before the end of winter if it continues to spread.

Who's Catching White Lung Syndrome and What's its Relation to China?

According to WOOD, the average age of children who've been catching this respiratory disease is 8 years old but children as young as 3 have also been hospitalized along with a rather large number of others.

The "White Lung Syndrome" is similar to a virus that is going around in China but is not the same strain and there is zero evidence of this virus being a new novel respiratory virus. As the doctor points out in the video above, this uptick in cases is just normal pneumonia that is happening because of the time of year it is and an unusual number of cases have hit one particular county of Ohio but there is nothing new here. Whew.