While the spread of mysterious pneumonia cases has mainly been reported in China, Samoa's Ministry of Health says it will take a closer look at the outbreak as other countries report similar symptoms. 

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Thursday night, the Health Director General, Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma said they will look into it due to public concerns.

“It’s something really that World Health has not really communicated to us or even our network that looks at public health has not actually flagged that particular flu with us so it’s something that we need to look at so thank you for flagging that," Aiono said. “At the moment we are only screening for Covid.

"But thank you for flagging that because it’s something we need to look into and we will because it has not been flagged officially by WHO [World Health Organisation]. 

"I know WHO has been quoted overseas, but locally they haven’t actually flagged that with us so it doesn’t seem to be a concern. But they’re saying that it’s more of flu, maybe it’s common flu, but who knows.”

This week China's National Health Commission reported an increase in respiratory infections, but it is unclear if they are related to the mysterious pneumonia outbreak. The WHO is requesting more information to investigate the clusters among children in the cases that have already been recorded. 

According to overseas media reports, China has reported a new wave of respiratory diseases, which authorities say are mainly dominated by patients with pneumonia symptoms.

This newspaper understands that there has been an increase in the number of children being admitted to the hospital at Motootua with flu-like symptoms.