Kazakhstan refutes Chinese Embassy claims of ‘unknown’ pneumonia

Kazakhstan has rejected a warning issued by the Chinese embassy that a viral pneumonia even more fatal than coronavirus is seen in the country . Kazakhstan has rejected the claim by the Chinese embassy that it is more deadlier than the coronavirus.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan issued a warning to its citizens about an unknown pneumonia in the Central Asian country after more than 600 people died of pneumonia in June. In an advisory issued to its citizens  stated that the new disease has a much higher fatality rate than Covid-19.

The Chinese embassy said in a statement on its WeChat platform on Thursday that ‘unknown pneumonia’ in Kazakhstan killed 1772 people in the first six months of the year, with 628 dying in June alone. It also included Chinese citizens. The embassy said in a statement that the fatal rate of the disease is much higher than COVID-19. The Health Ministry of Kazakhstan has also termed the news of pneumonia as false.

According to the agency’s reports, the ministry said that bacterial, fungal and viral pneumonia infections, including cases of unclear causes, are in line with World Health Organization guidelines. The ministry said that information published by some Chinese media regarding a new type of pneumonia in Kazakhstan is incorrect. Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry has acknowledged the viral pneumonia, but denied that it is new and unknown.

The statement from the Chinese embassy said that pneumonia in Kazakhstan has killed 1772 people in the first half of the year, including Chinese citizens, with 628 deaths in June. The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan called for Chinese citizens to be aware of the situation and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection. According to Chinese state media, Kazakhstan’s health minister said on Wednesday that the number of patients suffering from pneumonia is two to three times higher than those infected with Covid-19.