Similar symptoms, the same type of people affected (the elderly) and the willingness of scientists to understand their evolution in order to evaluate the possible scenarios of the current pandemic. There could be a coronavirus similar to Sars-CoV-2 behind the mysterious Russian Flu of 130 years ago, a respiratory disease that emerged in 1889 and spread around the world, with very similar modalities and symptoms to those of Covid-19. It is the hypothesis reported by the New York Times and launched by some researchers, who are now hunting for evidence on old lung tissue samples prior to the 1918 Spanish Flu.
Russian influence, similarities with Covid
The mysterious disease that emerged in Russia and then spread to the rest of the globe caused three infectious waves and at least 1 million deaths, but from the sources of the time it is difficult to understand how it ended. The similarities with the current pandemic are indeed many: even during that of 1889 schools and factories were forced to close, due to the very high number of infected people, and the sick often reported the loss of taste and smell and other symptoms. such as the feeling of fatigue that could last for months after healing. In addition, the Russian flu also affected older people much more than young people, as opposed to what happens with classic flu viruses, which tend not to distinguish based on age.
Analyzes on tissue samples
The idea is currently only a hypothesis devoid of any certain evidence. Some researchers believe they can find some evidence by examining ancient lung tissue samples preserved in museums and medical schools and prior to 1918 (the year of the Spanish Flu), looking for traces left by influenza viruses and coronaviruses with which people they had come into contact. If analyzes really prove that the 130-year-old pandemic was caused by a coronavirus, some believe it may still be in circulation today as one of the 4 known coronaviruses that cause the common cold.
Last updated: Thursday 17 February 2022, 21:38
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