Shanghai health authorities refuted an Internet rumor Thursday that claimed three people had died from an unidentified disease at Shanghai No.5 People's Hospital in Minhang district between February 14 and February 24.

The hospital had reported two deaths to the Minhang Center of Disease Control on February 26, though experts concluded that the victims' deaths were caused by a severe pulmonary infection coupled with multiple basic diseases. Medical tests excluded the possibility of SARS, Avian Influenza, Influenza A or the new novel coronavirus.

The two people who died were 55 years old and 87 years old. They died on February 28 and March 4, respectively.

The health authority denied rumors that a family of four had fallen ill and the hospital failed to report a fifth case.

Global Times