{"copyright":"Reach PLC 2024","thumbnail":"https://i2-prod.irishstar.com/news/us-news/article32637058.ece/ALTERNATES/s98/0_coronavirus-surge-threatens-health-system-in-argentina.jpg","creator":"Tom McGhie & Tom McGhie","siteUrl":"https://www.irishstar.com/","siteWideLogoDark":null,"smartViewAdsEnabled":true,"link":"https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/mystery-flu-sumilar-covid-argentina-32637059","siteName":"Irish Star Online","siteDescription":"RSS feed from Irish Star - frontpage","siteLogo":null,"description":"An alert about the virus circulated via an international public health surveillance system as 60 people were reported with the sickness in Argentina","language":"en","siteWideLogo":"https://reach-feeds-prod.tm-awx.com/images/irishstar.png","video":null,"title":"Mystery flu 'similar to Covid' leaves dozens critically ill as doctors on high alert","pubDate":1713706054000,"content":"

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Doctors are on high alert as a mystery flu 'similar to Covid' leaves people critically ill in an outbreak that shares a chilling resemblance with the emergence of Covid-19. The illness has resulted in dozens of hospitalizations in Argentina.

On the night of April 17, an international public health surveillance system circulated an alert about this virus, reporting that 60 individuals have fallen sick in the country's capital, Buenos Aires, as per the Daily Mail.

Database ProMed alerted authorities worldwide about Covid-19 back in late 2019, shedding light on the seriousness of the alarm in Argentina.

The submitted report, credited \"via an individual known to ProMed\", stated: \"In the past 30 days, there appears to have been an increase in severe atypical pneumonia requiring critical care in Buenos Aires. The affected individuals are mostly young people without major risk factors.\"

While official reports from Argentinian authorities remain pending, it is reportedly seen that patients have needed mechanical ventilation for breathing, reports the Daily Star.

The alert mentioned that over a third of the hospitalized patients displayed symptoms of psittacosis; a disease caused by a type of chlamydia prevalent amongst birds. However, many of these infected individuals seemed to have no prior contact with birds, noted the alert.

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Psittacosis, also known as parrot fever, is a flu-like disease that could cause symptoms ranging from mild headaches and cough to, in severe cases, pneumonia. The condition can prove especially challenging for the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

The alert additionally stated: \"Although psittacosis appears to be the etiology of some of the cases, there may be more than one agent involved. ProMED would appreciate more information about these cases.\"

The Mail reported today that experts are urging health leaders not to be \"complacent\" in the face of potential respiratory illnesses threats. However, they maintained that it was \"unlikely this will pose a threat more widely\".

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