Mystery Respiratory Illness in Buenos Aires

SOURCE www.dailystar.co.uk
Over 60 patients in Buenos Aires have been reported with a mysterious respiratory illness similar to the start of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, with some showing symptoms of psittacosis, a flu-like illness caused by a type of chlamydia found in birds.

Key Points

  • Similarity to Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan
  • Prompt response via ProMed database
  • Concerns about potential spread of the illness

Pros

  • Prompt alert issued to international public health surveillance system
  • Patients receiving critical care and mechanical ventilation
  • Experts calling for caution and more information gathering

Cons

  • No official statements from Argentinian officials
  • Some patients showing symptoms of psittacosis without history of bird contact
  • Uncertainty about the exact cause of the illness