Russia Denies Mystery Virus Claims as Public Anxiety Grows

Health officials attribute severe respiratory symptoms, including coughing up blood, to common infections, but public skepticism persists.

Russian health authority Rospotrebnadzor asserts there is no evidence of a new or unidentified virus in the country.
Reports of severe symptoms, such as high fever and coughing up blood, were initially spread through Telegram and local media, raising public concern.
Some patients tested negative for influenza and COVID-19, leading to speculation about an unidentified pathogen despite official dismissal of such claims.
Doctors have suggested Mycoplasma pneumonia, a bacterial infection, as a possible explanation for the symptoms reported by affected individuals.
Public distrust in health authorities, rooted in past experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, has fueled skepticism about official statements and reassurances.