Yinzibing Explained

Yinzibing (阴滋病) is an unverified disease. AIDS-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.

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).^{[1] [2]}

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.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^{[5] [6]}

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.^[7] However, a 2019 follow-up study suggested the symptoms were explainable as chronic fatigue syndrome,^[8] 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.

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.
• AIDS fear afflicts thousands across China People's Daily Online, 2009.

Notes and References

1. News: 卫生部发言人：阴性艾滋病是恐艾症状 不存在未知病毒. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108002408/http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-04/06/c_121269488.htm. dead. 2011-04-06. 2012-11-08. Xinhua News Agency.
2. News: China's Health Ministry dismisses "HIV-Negative AIDS" concerns. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108002414/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-04/07/c_13816078.htm. dead. 2011-04-07. 2012-11-08. Xinhua News Agency.
3. News: 卫生部回应"阴滋病"疑云:不是艾滋病不具传染性. https://web.archive.org/web/20160417125851/http://www.js.xinhuanet.com/xin_wen_zhong_xin/2011-04/07/content_22461781_1.htm. dead. 2011-04-07. 2016-04-17. Xinhua News Agency.
4. Web site: 中國爆數千人染「陰滋病」 | 國際新聞 | 蘋果日報 . Tw.nextmedia.com . 2011-08-05.
5. News: 疑病者称患"阴滋病" 专家否定存在艾滋病变种. https://archive.today/20120713090253/http://nf.nfdaily.cn/nfrb/content/2011-04/05/content_22316342.htm. dead. 2011-04-05. 2012-07-13. Nanfang Daily. 2011-08-03.
6. Web site: AIDS-like disease is actually phobia: official . Chinadaily.com.cn . 2011-04-07 . 2011-08-05.
7. Yaqiong . Liu . 15 March 2013 . Epidemiological investigation of cases with complained AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) . Journal of the Army Medical University . 35 . 05 . 369–375 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103220819/aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/en/#/digest?ArticleID=7572 . 3 January 2024 . Ppu.
8. Web site: 熊鸿燕 . Hongyan . XIONG . 王太武 . Taiwu . WANG . 2019-10-15 . Progress of a cause-unidentified disease: negative AIDS (不明原因疾病——"阴性艾滋病"的研究进展) . 2023-04-08 . aammt.tmmu.edu.cn . zh.