So far, a total of six patients in Argentina have undergone testing after being struck by a mystery illness, as three patients are currently still hospitalized. Tests ruled out the presence of most common infections, like COVID-19, sparking concerns of a new disease outbreak. Health officials on Wednesday announced that two people in northwest Argentina died this week from a form of severe pneumonia of “unknown origin”.
According to Argentina’s Ministry of Health, the six reported cases are five health workers and one patient who started showing symptoms between August 18 and August 22. Three of the patients are still in the hospital, while one is in a “satisfactory condition” and has been isolating at home, according to health officials.
According to a statement by the National ministry, all of them “started showing symptoms between August 18 and 22.” The provincial minister, Luis Medina Ruiz, said: “These patients have in common a severe respiratory condition with bilateral pneumonia and present an imagery very similar to COVID-19, but this has been ruled out.”
He added that the cases “have already been tested for COVID-19, influenza, influenza A and B, hantavirus (rodent-borne infections), and 25 other germs,” all of which were negative.
He noted that while this disease may be due to an infectious agent like a virus or bacteria, toxic and environmental causes have not been ruled out. Authorities are not analyzing the water and air conditions and sending samples for further analyses to the national reference laboratory in Buenos Aires.
Mr. Ruiz added: “No new cases have been reported since August 22.” This included close contact of the patients, which the minister hailed as “positive news”, assuring that the situation is “under control”. He added that the cases “have already been tested for COVID-19, influenza, influenza A and B, hantavirus (rodent-borne infections), and 25 other germs,” all of which were negative.
He noted that while this disease may be due to an infectious agent like a virus or bacteria, toxic and environmental causes have not been ruled out. Authorities are not analyzing the water and air conditions and sending samples for further analyses to the national reference laboratory in Buenos Aires.
Mr. Ruiz added: “No new cases have been reported since August 22.” This included the close contacts of the patients, which the minister hailed as “positive news”, assuring that the situation is “under control”. (Express)
