I dont think it's fake, but I do think there is something messy going on under the covers. Iran now has an outbreak of it....huh, we were at the brink of war with them recently. We are engaged in a trade war with China.  Awfully convenient for it to disrupt their manufacturing base. Also timed for maximum effect by hitting just before the lunar new year when there is a huge amount of internal travel. Also seems to affect ethnic Han Chinese particularly severely. Coincides with disease problems with their poultry and pork industries causing problems with the food supply.  How convenient...