There is no new virus from China/ Doctor Arjan Harxhi explains the infectious disease

There is no new virus or infectious disease that is spreading from China, but a bacteria that has always existed and that has caused an increase in the number of children with respiratory infections or white pneumonia as they call it in China.

Infectious disease doctor Prof. Dr. Arjan Harxhi explained to Top Channel that there is no place for panic as every year there are cases of this pneumonia in Albania as well.

"It is not a question of a cause for a new virus that can come to us from China. It is about pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs, caused by a bacterium called mycoplasma, a bacterium that has been known for decades, that we have every year in Albania, everywhere in Europe, in America, in Asia", explains Harxhi.

Professor Harxhi explains that more noise has been made, because there is talk of cases with China and from the experience of Covid, pneumonia caused by the mycoplasma bacterium also receives increased attention.

"Mycoplasma is a small bacteria that causes pneumonia. It is very widespread. In the USA, for example, it is reported that about 1 million people are affected by this bacterium every year, but only a small percentage can give pneumonia and it is a mild pneumonia, which is passed on foot and treated with antibiotics. So there is no need to be alarmed", says the professor.

According to Harxhi, it does not show severe clinical symptoms, except in individuals with low immunity.

"Even from China, we have not received information that the clinical progress is serious, dangerous. And from the cases that we follow every year with atypical pneumonia, because that's what it's called scientifically, with a cycle of oral antibiotics for 7-10 days, it goes away".