[Commentary] The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan issued an announcement on July 9 to remind Chinese citizens in Kazakhstan to prevent unknown pneumonia, citing local media reports that the incidence of pneumonia in Kazakhstan since mid-June has increased significantly over the same period. On July 10, a reporter from China News Service interviewed experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on this issue.
[Commentary] Wu Zunyou, chief expert in epidemiology of the Chinese Center for Disease Control, said that at present, the Chinese Center for Disease Control has not received relevant information from Kazakhstan about the pneumonia epidemic and can only analyze the possibility from a professional perspective.
[Same period] Wu Zunyou, Chief Expert of Epidemiology, China CDC
The news on our side is the same as that of you (reporter). From our point of view, it is more likely to be a new crown (pneumonia). The first one, it is now in the situation of global epidemic, this is one; the second, if respiratory infectious diseases start to occur, it is rare in the case of midsummer, this is the second situation; Three, its current case fatality rate is still within the scope of the new coronary pneumonia case fatality rate.
[Commentary] According to media reports, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health denied on the 10th that "unexplained pneumonia" with a fatality rate higher than that of the new coronavirus in the country, saying that "these cases are likely to be new coronavirus cases."
[Explanation] In this regard, Zeng Guang, the former chief scientist of the epidemiology of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, believes that the relationship between the Kazakhstan epidemic and new coronary pneumonia is currently difficult to judge.
[Same period] Zeng Guang, former Chief Scientist of Epidemiology, China CDC
I think the situation of this problem is unknown at present. You can see that the information he said is not exactly the same as what we know (New Crown Virus). Because Kazakhstan’s New Coronary Pneumonia is reported from Hopkins University in the United States, it has more than 50,000 cases, and we have no clear relationship with this (unknown pneumonia).
[Commentary] Zeng Guang pointed out that in the face of uncertainties, Chinese citizens in Kazakhstan should be highly vigilant and take good protection.
[Same period] Zeng Guang, former Chief Scientist of Epidemiology, China CDC
At least what we can do is to go out less, wear masks, keep a distance, wash hands frequently, and even wear eye masks.
[Explanation] Zeng Guang said that at present it should not be easy to draw conclusions about the epidemic. From the perspective of China, the most important thing at present is strict prevention and control.
[Same period] Zeng Guang, former Chief Scientist of Epidemiology, China CDC
We mainly need to make good land crossings, and those from there must strengthen monitoring. All in all, we should be very vigilant about this matter. The most important thing now is to prevent diseases from outside the country.
Wen Mengxin Zhang Ziyang reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]