Symptoms of white lung syndrome as cases rise
There are a few symptoms to look out for
White lung syndrome cases are rising, so knowing the symptoms of disease has never been more important.
It's that time of year when everybody just seems to be ill.
The cold temperatures and time spent indoors can help contribute to the quick spread of coughs and colds.
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White lung syndrome is the latest winter bug to look out for, and knowing the symptoms is one of the best ways to stop the spread.
Cases of white lung syndrome started in China and the US, and now it's in Denmark and the Netherlands, too.
Although it hasn't reached the UK yet, the symptoms to look out for are a fever, cough and fatigue, as well as green mucus (phlegm) and shortness of breath.
White lung syndrome is a type of pneumonia, which is categorised by an inflammation of the lungs.
Almost 150 cases of pneumonia have been recorded solely in Ohio, US, in the last month.
Hanne-Dorthe Emborg, senior researcher at Statens Serum Institut (SSI), said: "For the past four years, the number of mycoplasma infections has been extremely low, and it is therefore not unusual that we have an epidemic now.
"We have actually been waiting for it since we closed the country after the Covid pandemic.
"Precisely because the number has been so low in the past three-and-a-half years, and there is therefore a group of children who have not built up immunity, we can probably also expect a higher incidence this season than what has been seen during previous mycoplasma epidemics before the pandemic."
If you do experience symptoms of white lung syndrome, it's recommended you stay at home.
Other methods to help avoid spreading the virus are regular hand washing and covering mouths when coughing.
White lung syndrome seems particularly prevalent among children, with schools and nurseries breeding ground for spreading the illness.
The Warren County Health Department has said it's working with the Ohio Department of Health along with local children's hospitals and primary care providers to help reduce the spread.
Though a source at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told the Daily Mail that, nationally, 'nothing is out of the ordinary' in the data.
Stay safe out there!
Annie Walton Doyle