Overview

• 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.