- Drs say pneumonia cases have risen
- Scuttling covid-19 fight because pneumonia is one of the symptoms
- Patient dies before all covid-19 symptoms are exhibited
AN unexpected pneumonia outbreak has this week hit the country amid the COVID-19 scourge, Zim Morning Post can reveal.
Medical experts say the outbreak is scuttling the fight against corona virus as pneumonia is one of the symptoms.
Pneumonia is a lung disease characterized by inflammation of the airspaces in the lungs, most commonly due to an infection.
Although there was no immediate official confirmation by the Health ministry on Tuesday, trusted sources in Matabeleland South province told this publication that several patients presented to Gwanda hospital during the past two days in suspicion of COVID-19, but were quickly discharged.
“There are about three patients, one of which fell sick aboard a Bulawayo bound bus from South Africa and he was dropped at the hospital (Gwanda).
“All three patients were discharged after the medical practitioners established that it was pneunomia,” revealed our inside source.
Zim Morning Post understands that despite being one of the COVID-19 symptoms, pneumonia patients were not subjected to testing due to shortages of test kits.
“The medical investigations were verbal and there was no form of testing.
“The other patient later died on his way to Bulawayo.
“A local surgery also had more cases of pneunomia and I hope it is contained,” added our source .
The development coincides with the eleventh COVID-19 confirmed positive case (and second death) in the country.
The patient eventually died on Saturday in Bulawayo but was initially diagnosed of pneumonia, according to the ministry of health statement released on Tuesday.
He was admitted on April 6 and treated as a case of bacterial pneumonia after he presented sore throat, fever and difficulty in breathing but with no record of travel history.
