Kazakh authorities firmly denied claims from the Chinese Embassy in Nur-Sultan on Friday, refuting reports of a new virus deadlier than SARS-CoV-2 spreading across several regions.
The alert originated from the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan's capital, Nur-Sultan, via its WeChat platform. It warned citizens of a new disease "with a mortality rate far higher than COVID-19," spreading in regions including Atyrau, Aktobe, and Shymkent.
The embassy's press release cited "Kazakh pneumonia," claiming 1,772 deaths in the first six months of 2020, including "628 in June alone." China urged its nationals to exercise extreme caution and avoid crowded areas.
A Global Times report noted Chinese experts calling for preventive measures to stop the virus from crossing into China, given the shared border. Kazakhstan has suspended cross-border buses and international flights amid the coronavirus crisis.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health stated the Chinese media claims "do not correspond to reality." It reported over 32,000 pneumonia cases between June 29 and July 5, with 451 deaths, describing them as standard pneumonias.
Chief medical officer Aizhan Esmagambetova acknowledged that this year's pneumonia death toll is 50% higher than last year.
Luca Anceschi, senior lecturer in Central Asian studies at the University of Glasgow, told Newsweek there is no evidence supporting the Chinese reports of a new virus.
“There is no confirmation from Kazakh national sources for reports describing this pneumonia strain as an entirely new virus. In my view, more time, improved testing, and refined reporting practices are needed to determine if these cases link to COVID-19," he said.
On potential motivations behind China's statement, Anceschi noted the complex Sino-Kazakh relationship makes speculation challenging.
Kazakhstan's latest COVID-19 figures show over 57,000 cases and 264 deaths. Globally, Johns Hopkins University reports over 12 million confirmed cases since the pandemic began.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Thursday that the virus remains uncontrolled worldwide, with cases doubling in the past six weeks.
