Russia says many coronavirus patients have died of other causes. A little disagree

Moscow (Reuters) -Liubov Kashaeva, 74, tested twice for the new coronavirus before he died in a hospital in Moscow earlier this month. But her death was not due to a virus. It was attributed to the cancer she was suffering from.

“The medical death certificate … said he died of a malignant tumor,” said Kashaeva’s daughter-in-law, Daria Kornilova. “No coronavirus is mentioned anywhere.”

Kashaeva is one of the thousands of Russians infected with the new coronavirus, whose death is another cause.

Russia has the second highest number of infections in the world, with a total of 299,941 cases and 2,837 deaths. According to Johns Hopkins University, it produces a mortality rate of 1.88 per 100,000 Russians.

The equivalent US figure is 27.61 per 100,000 Americans and 52.45 in the UK.

Russia defends how to count coronavirus deaths.

“We fully understand all the characteristics of COVID-19,” pathologist Oleg Zairatyants, author of the Moscow Health Department’s guidelines for coronavirus autopsy, told Reuters.

“The results (of the analysis) are objective and pronounced by the committee … Unfortunately people are dying, but their cause of death is clear to us,” even when he said, COVID Someone who was also asked about death not due to -19 was virus positive.

However, the relatives of some deceased patients argue that their loved ones might have died without the virus.

Kashaeva was diagnosed with end-stage intestinal cancer in January. But she plans to start chemotherapy, and the family hoped to spend more time with her.

On May 3, Kashaeva felt debilitated and was hospitalized. Scans revealed that she had pneumonia in both lungs, a common symptom of coronavirus infection, and two tests were performed and she returned positive. Kashaeva died on May 8.

“The coronavirus killed my grandmother, of course, and we are sad,” Kornilova said. “If it wasn’t for the coronavirus, chemotherapy resisted her for some time.”

“Clear alternative reason”

Moscow, the epicenter of the Russian coronavirus outbreak, said that more than 60% of the deaths of people infected with coronavirus in the capital in April were not counted in the death toll and instead put to other causes. States.

These cases were “resulting from obvious alternative reasons such as vascular catastrophes (heart attacks and strokes), late stage malignancies,” and other incurable diseases.

The Moscow Ministry of Health cites Russia’s more accurate way of counting deaths from coronaviruses than any other country, citing the benefits of a national inspection program with more than 7 million tests.

The sharp rise in mortality is believed to be due to the seasonal increase in acute respiratory tract infections, including COVID-19, which accelerated the progression of chronic disease.

Mr Kornirowa said he felt that the decision on how to classify his mother-in-law’s death was “on a party line.”

“And to my knowledge, for now, the party lines say … the death toll in Russia should be as low as possible.”

The Kremlin did not respond to requests for comment on individual cases or on whether Russia was willing to control official death toll.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova denied tampering with statistics.

Unlike most countries, Russia uses postmortem analysis to determine whether the death of an infected person was caused by a virus.

But some doctors say the distinction is arbitrary.

“In simple terms, a virus never“ dies ”. People die from complications caused by the virus, “said Alexei Erik, director of the intensive care unit at Moscow Hospital 29, which was designated to treat coronaviruses.

“But we also die from the complications of the chronic illness caused by the virus. Some people believe that such deaths should not be included in the coronavirus death toll. They should. I believe, “Erik said.

“In this respect, I’m in a strong conflict with some of my colleagues. Their photos are scattered all over the city.”

“FROM” or “WITH”?

According to Karl Hennegan, a doctor and professor at Oxford University, all deaths in the United Kingdom have been fatal in those who test positive for coronavirus and those who test negative for suspected coronavirus. It is said that

“We are not in a position to distinguish” from “or” from “a dying coronavirus,” Hennegan said in an email.

Talking anonymously, a Moscow-based pathologist said it was virtually impossible to make a clear distinction between the two.

The World Health Organization (WHO) believes Russia’s approach is okay.

“There is no conscious underestimation,” Melita Vujnovic, WHO’s chief Russian officer, told Russian state television last week. “It’s possible that some recalculations will take place or something else will happen, but so far nothing serious has been seen.”

Some Russians remain skeptical.

Leo Shrikov, a communications manager in Moscow, died on the 5th and 11th on a positive coronavirus test and on the ventilator for 11 days.

According to Shrikov, who wrote on social media, the death certificate did not include the coronavirus as the cause of his father’s death.

“Yes, he had a heart attack a few years ago, yes, he had renal failure and diabetes, but if it was not a coronavirus, he was still alive.”