RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service, Budapest, Hungary
A new infectious disease is spreading in large areas of Mainland China.
Symptoms are similar to AIDS but it spreads faster between family members,
even via bodily fluids like saliva. Mr. Lin from Yunnan Province caught a
disease last May, unlike anything he had seen before. "This disease
destroys immunity cells just like AIDS. The lowest amount of immunity cells
of some patients is only 200, mine is 400. The doctor couldn't find many
antibodies, so he called it 'Fear of AIDS' disease." Preliminary research
shows that patients have symptoms of fatigue, chronic diarrhea, swollen lymph
nodes, and weakened immunity. But doctors cannot find any sign of the HIV
virus. "A huge number of people caught the nameless virus but the doctors
cannot make a thorough check. So they make a conclusion that it's a 'Fear
of AIDS' disease. The symptoms are very much like those of AIDS."
Because the Chinese Ministry of Health doesn't recognize the disease, it has
not carried out any investigation. However, patients feel very horrified and
sad when they see their family members and friends become infected by coming
into contact with their saliva or sweat. "We hope that media reports can
pressure the relevant departments to pay more attention to the disease. Do not
make any irresponsible conclusions and say it is caused by fear or psychological
effect – it is a real virus. Many doctors, including doctors from Beijing also
say this is an infectious disease." Doctors from mainland China also believe
patients might catch the disease. However, the exact number of people infected
remains unknown and what the mortality rate is, and how many have died from it.
