Rumors of a mysterious virus circulating in Russia have been debunked by the World Health Organisation’s country office head, Batyr Berdyklychev.

Local media reports on Friday quoted the WHO official stating that the recent illness affecting patients in Moscow was a known bacterial infection—not a novel threat.

Berdyklychev disclosed that investigations were launched following alarming reports of patients coughing up blood in Moscow and its surrounding region. The WHO promptly requested relevant data from Russian health authorities to clarify the situation.

Laboratory tests confirmed that the five suspected cases were all caused by mycoplasma pneumonia, a well-known bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system. “This is not a new virus,” Berdyklychev stated firmly, adding that the number of cases currently recorded does not indicate any heightened epidemiological danger.

READ ALSO: WHO reports low risk of Avian Flu spread after U.S. death

He stressed that while the symptoms found in Russia  may have sparked concern, there is no reason to panic, as the infection is familiar to global health authorities and manageable within standard medical protocols.

The WHO representative also commended the swift cooperation between the organisation and Russia’s Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare, which helped facilitate a quick response and accurate diagnosis.

“This is a very good example of the fact that the Russian Federation has set up a reliable epidemiological surveillance system,” Berdyklychev remarked, highlighting the importance of continued transparency and vigilance in public health monitoring.

NAN