Rumours of an ‘unidentified’ virus which causes sufferers to ‘cough up blood’ have been spreading in Russia.
Despite patients testing negative for both influenza and COVID-19, Russian officials have attributed the extreme symptoms to common respiratory infections.
Local media and Telegram channels have shared news of the ‘severe’ infections online, prompting further worry from residents.
One woman told local media that on the fifth day of her illness, she began coughing up blood – and antibiotics didn’t help.
The virus starts with aches and fatigue, before morphing into a high fever with a vicious cough, sometimes accompanied by blood.
Rumours were shut down by Rospotrebnadzor, a Russian agency which oversees public health, saying: ‘no evidence of a new or unidentified virus circulating on the territory of the Russian Federation.’
But news outlet Newizru reported ‘doctors are noting many cases of infection with a strange virus that has not yet been identified’.
One doctor told local media she was sceptical of reports of a new pathogen: ‘This disease is primarily bullous, bronchitis because bullae begin to form in the lungs, the inflammatory process occurs directly in the bronchi and lungs.
‘That is, like ulcers. This virus does not manifest itself in everyone.’
The mystery virus is currently unknown, but it’s made rounds at the end of cold and flu season.
One doctor suggested the fierce virus could be attributed to mycoplasma pneumonia – also known as walking pneumonia.
Pneumonia is a lung condition where the alveoli become inflamed. This can result in fluid building up in the lungs due to their diminished functionality.
This is an informal name for pneumonia that isn’t severe enough to be bedridden – or require hospital treatment.
More Trending
With ‘walking pneumonia’ the symptoms are so mild that the person may feel like they have a cold and therefore can walk around with no problems.
Often those with walking pneumonia the person doesn’t feel ill enough to go to the doctor – and even if they do go, the symptoms are normally not severe enough for a chest x-ray to be done.
This means that often walking pneumonia is not diagnosed and can linger.
Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria or viruses, it can also be caused by fungi, parasites, chemicals and any physical injury to the lungs.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Urgent recall of popular holiday crisps found in UK supermarkets over allergy fears
MORE: Girl, 9, waiting 53 months for kidney transplant just ‘wants a childhood’
MORE: Gay Russian tennis star ‘didn’t have much choice’ over Australian nationality switch
