Italian docs saw strange pneumonia cases before China's coronavirus outbreak


Washington, March 22 (IANS): Italian general practitioners saw strange pneumonia cases as early as November 2019, which could mean the virus was circulating in parts of the country before doctors became aware of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China last December, a US radio outlet reported.

The report published by National Public Radio (NPR) cited Giuseppe Remuzzi, co-author of a recent paper in The Lancet about Italy's epidemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the report, some question why Italy was caught off guard when the virus outbreak was revealed on February 21.

Remuzzi said he was hearing information about it from general practitioners.

"They remember having seen very strange pneumonia, very severe, particularly in old people in December and even November," the report quoted Remuzzi as saying.

"This means that the virus was circulating, at least in (the northern region of) Lombardy and before we were aware of this outbreak occurring in China."

Remuzzi believed other countries can learn important lessons from Italy.

The takeaways include how to swiftly convert a general hospital into a coronavirus care unit with specially trained doctors and nurses, said the NPR report.

Italy reported 6,557 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, raising the total to 53,578 since the pandemic first broke out in its north on February 21.

Last week, it surpassed China's death toll, making it the worst-hit country in terms of global fatalities.

As of Sunday, Italy registered 4,825 deaths, while China reported 3,144 fatalities.

 

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Arthur, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 22 2020

    The Chinese Communist party should be held responsible for the failure to inform the world in November, 2019 during the first outbreak of Wuhan virus. The Chicoms have begun a propaganda offensive to shift blame to other countries in an effort to deflect blame from themselves.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 22 2020

    Chinese test military grade virus, under report then boast ?? and then spread fake news propoganda ??

    DisAgree [7] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Deshbhakht, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 22 2020

    So, was the pneumonia (found in Italy during Nov-Dec. 2019) different from Corona ? Or, are they related ?

    Meaning, the virus did not originate in China as believed so far in the entire world ? Corona is also believed to a backfire of a bio-weapon. Who was it prepared for ? By who ? China, or Italy ?

    DisAgree [11] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 22 2020

    Now nobody knows from where it has started. America and its close friendly nations without knowing the origin started to blame China. And made them BAKRA

    DisAgree [4] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Italian docs saw strange pneumonia cases before China's coronavirus outbreak



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.