Reports in Russia are raising fresh questions after social media posts described a flu-like illness that allegedly escalates into high fever and a blood-streaked cough.
According to messages shared on Telegram, symptoms reportedly start with familiar “Covid-style” complaints—fatigue, body aches, and weakness. Within days, some posts claim the condition worsens, with temperatures said to reach 39°C (102.2°F) and coughing that becomes persistent and severe.
The same posts suggest patients are testing negative for Covid-19 and influenza, and that some clinicians are recording cases as an unspecified upper respiratory infection. Alleged reports mention multiple cities, though no official figures on case counts or hospital admissions have been confirmed.
Russian health authorities have publicly pushed back. Officials say they have found no proof of a new or unknown virus circulating, adding that Covid and flu activity is declining while pneumonia levels remain stable. One senior figure urged caution—taking the claims seriously without turning them into panic.
Some commentary online points to walking pneumonia (Mycoplasma pneumoniae) as a possible explanation, since it can mimic viral illness and cause prolonged coughing in certain cases.
At this stage, the situation remains unverified, and independent experts outside Russia say they cannot confirm the reports.
