How Will Covid-19 End? Looking For Clues, Scientists Examine 'Russian Flu'

People who contracted the 'Russian flu' infection, reported symptoms like loss of taste and smell. This is strikingly similar to Covid-19 symptoms.

It's been more than two years since the world has been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Since 2019, there have been successive waves of infection which had devastating effects on the population. Some of these waves proved to be more deadly in a few countries where Covid-19 infection caused a high number of fatalities and put strain on the healthcare infrastructure.

Since Covid-19 struck, the scientists across the world have been looking for examples to help them anticipate the future of the infectious disease. As part of this global effort, they are examining a respiratory illness that struck Russia more than 130 years ago.

Dubbed the “Russian flu”, this mystery illness may have been caused by a virus similar to SARS-COV-2, the scientists have claimed, as per a New York Times report.

The May 1889 disease swept across the world, overwhelming hospitals and killing the old with special ferocity. Schools and colleges were forced to close and those infected reported loss of taste and smell - much like today's pandemic.