The medical community is concerned about extremely localized cases in Argentina of pneumonia of unknown origin. Nine people were affected in Argentina and three died.
- Nine Argentinians fell ill with this unknown pneumonia, which resembles Covid-19 without being linked to it.
- Of these nine, three died, four are in hospital with more or less serious symptoms, two others are being monitored in isolation at home.
- The situation is currently “under control”.
Three people have died since Monday August 29 in Tucuman, in the northwest of Argentina. The cause ? Severe pneumonia of unknown origin. In all, nine cases have already been identified, including eight members of the nursing staff of the same private clinic. The ninth, who died on Thursday, is a 70-year-old woman who was a patient at the same private clinic, where she had undergone surgery.
patient zero
This patient could “in principle to be the “zero patient”, but it is under examination”, indicated the provincial Minister of Health, Luis Medina Ruiz, during a press conference that took place this Thursday, September 1. The examinations carried out on samples taken from patients take place at the Argentine reference laboratory, the Malbran Institute in Buenos Aires. The results should be published by the end of the week.
No person-to-person transmission
Covid-19, type A and B influenza and hantavirus (transmitted by rodents) have already been excluded from the diagnosis. The origin of the pathology could be an infectious agent, but “toxic or environmental causes” are not excluded.
“It would not be a disease that results in person-to-person transmission, as close contacts of these patients have no symptoms.”, explained to the local newspaper The Gaceta of Tucuman the president of the Medical College of the province of Tucuman, Hector Sale. He nevertheless expresses hisworry“for an obviously pathology”agressive”.
“A severe respiratory condition”
Common symptoms, which appeared in affected patients between August 18 and 23, are “a severe respiratory condition”, pointed out Luis Ruiz Medina, before adding that “lMost started with vomiting, high fever, diarrhea and body aches, with a more complex course in some”.
Following the outbreak of the outbreak, a “intense search of all health personnel” of the clinic was launched. For the moment, no cases outside the establishment have been identified.
