BEIJING/NUR-SULTAN (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 10th July, 2020) SULTAN, July 10 (Sputnik) - The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan warned on Friday China's citizens about an outbreak of an unknown type of pneumonia with a high mortality rate in the Central Asian nation.
"According to Kazakh media reports, since mid-June, the Atyrau Region, the Aktobe Region and the city of Shymkent have faced an increased number of patients with pneumonia. Currently, the number of infected people in these regions stands at some 500 people, over 30 people are in critical condition," the embassy said in a statement.
According to the Chinese diplomatic mission, this type of pneumonia has a much higher mortality rate than COVID-19.
"The Kazakh Ministry of Health and other agencies are currently studying this virus, which causes pneumonia. The situation is still unclear," the statement said.
The embassy called on Chinese citizens in Kazakhstan to keep cautious, avoid public places, use sanitizers, often wash hands and wear face masks.
The diplomatic mission added that people with symptoms of the disease should immediately ask for medical care.
Meanwhile, the Kazakh Health Ministry refuted reports on the outbreak of an unknown type of pneumonia in the country.
"Some Chinese media have reported that Kazakhstan has registered cases of unknown pneumonia which is more deadly than the coronavirus. The Kazakh health ministry is officially saying that this information is not true," the ministry's press office said.
The press office added that the ministry is separately keeping records of cases of pneumonia when COVID-19 is suspected but not yet laboratory confirmed.
