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Sixteen hours ago the South China Morning Post published a story about what is purported to be a new, deadlier-than-COVID pneumonia in Kazakhstan. The source seems to be a statement from the Chinese embassy there. Details are sparse and skepticism merited. https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3092563/chinese-embassy-warns-deadly-unknown-pneumonia-kazakhstan
CNN has now picked up the story is essentially repeating it without any further information. There is nothing about how COVID has been ruled out, nor much by way of epidemiological detail. Until we know a lot more, COVID seems the most likely explanation. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/10/asia/kazakhstan-pneumonia-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html
One report is that this is based on a translation error. Seems more likely to me than a new, even worse pneumonia.
We've got known dangers to worry about right now. I'm not going to worry about unlikely ones until we've got a lot more information. https://twitter.com/WilliamYang120/status/1281434609201233920
We've got known dangers to worry about right now. I'm not going to worry about unlikely ones until we've got a lot more information. https://twitter.com/WilliamYang120/status/1281434609201233920
If you want scary stories, go read about a talking bear who didn't want to share his pizza. https://twitter.com/CT_Bergstrom/status/1281477305366245377
In my opinion, this is shoddy journalism by CNN.
"CNN has been unable to independently verify the Chinese Embassy report."
Then don't publish yet. Given that it's the sort of story that can stoke panic, wait until reliable information is available.
"CNN has been unable to independently verify the Chinese Embassy report."
Then don't publish yet. Given that it's the sort of story that can stoke panic, wait until reliable information is available.
Official denial of the South China Morning Post story, from Kazakhstan. https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/dsm/press/news/details/informaciya-nekotoryh-kitayskih-smi-o-novoy-pnevmonii-v-kazahstane-ne-sootvetstvuet-deystvitelnosti?lang=en
