Sore throats, сough and loss of smell: Kazakhstanis report COVID-like illness

Residents of Kazakhstan have taken to social media to report an illness they say resembles COVID-19, citing symptoms including sore throats, coughing and, in some cases, loss of taste and smell.

The reports have prompted clarification from the Ministry of Health, with specialists urging people not to diagnose themselves based solely on symptoms, 31 Channel reported.

According to medical professionals, several respiratory viruses are currently circulating in Kazakhstan, including rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza and seasonal coronaviruses. COVID-19 is also still being detected.

Doctors said they had not identified signs of a new dangerous strain. However, acute respiratory viral infections can be more severe in infants under one year old, pregnant women, older people and patients with chronic diseases.

“There is currently no increase in viral infections among the population. We are seeing background or seasonal incidence, and among the viruses identified by our laboratories, there are no unusual viruses,” said Ainagul Kuatbayeva, director of a branch of the Ministry of Health’s National Centre for Public Health.

By Tamilla Hasanova