Yinzibing (阴滋病) is an unverified disease.

AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...

-like symptoms were reported by people who claimed that they had caught such disease, but tested negative for HIV. Authorities claim people had anxiety and stress that could have triggered an

auto-immune disease An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a functioning body part. At least 80 types of autoimmune diseases have been identified, with some evidence suggesting that there may be more than 100 types. Nearly a ...

Etymology

The term was coined from "yīnxìng (negative)", "àizī (AIDS)", and "bìng (disease)". It was also referred to as "Yinxing Aizibing" (阴性艾滋病, HIV-negative AIDS).

History

In 2011, rumors of an AIDS-like disease were spreading in Mainland China, which captured the attention of the media of China and Hong Kong and spread across the internet. It was reported that people with "yinzibing" had AIDS-like symptoms such as hypodermic hemorrhage, weak immune system, swollen lymph glands, etc. An investigation followed. The Chinese Ministry of Health conducted an epidemiological investigation. The Disease Prevention and Control Bureau of China stated that no new virus was found and that yinzibing was a mental health problem. A study of patients claiming to suffer from this disorder, conducted in 2013, concluded that this disease could not be completely explained by mental disorder. However, a 2019 follow-up study suggested the symptoms were explainable as

chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS, is a complex, debilitating, long-term medical condition. The causes and mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood. Distinguishing core symptoms are ...

, an illness usually precipitated by a viral infection or stress. The Chinese CDC shipped blood samples overseas for additional analysis. That analysis found no new virus nor infection.

References

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External links

Expert: AIDS-like disease is not just phobia
China Daily, 2011.
China's mystery HIV-like disease may be all in the mind
BBC News, 2010.

People's Daily Online, 2009. 2011 in China HIV/AIDS Fringe science