Last night, an alert about the virus circulated via an international public health surveillance system as 60 people were reported with the sickness in the country’s capital Buenos Aires, reports the Daily Mail. The affected individuals are mostly young people without major risk factors. While no official statements have been made by Argentinian officials, patients have reportedly required mechanical ventilation to help them breathe.
The alert also suggested over a third of the sickened population showed symptoms of psittacosis, caused by a type of chlamydia rife in birds. However, many of the affected had no apparent history of contact with birds, the alert noted. The disease can be particularly problematic for elderly or immunocompromised members of the public.
The alert added: “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.”
According to the Mail, experts today called on health chiefs not to be “complacent” in the face of the threat of another respiratory illness, although it was insisted it was “unlikely this will pose a threat more widely”. We also treat our community members to competitions, special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
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