Infectious Diseases - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kyrgyzstan Among Countries with Highest Number of Measles Cases

The measles virus is spreading in many parts of the world, and Kyrgyzstan is among the nations experiencing a surge in cases as health officials conduct an immunization drive despite vaccine skepticism among some people. A total of 5,168 measles cases had been registered across the Central Asian country as of April 10 this year, in what the Ministry of Health described as an “acute” situation. Some 1,777 vaccination clinics operate across Kyrgyzstan at a primary healthcare level and in maternity hospitals, and mobile teams carry out vaccinations in remote areas as well as among migrants in new settlements in the capital, Bishkek, according to the ministry. One UNICEF-supported nurse has traveled on horseback to deliver measles vaccines on remote farms in the mountainous country. “Every year, up to 20,000 people refuse to get vaccinated. The main reasons for refusal are religious beliefs — 43%, doubts about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines — 45%. This leads to the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases,” the ministry said. It also stated that unvaccinated citizens, mainly preschool children, could be temporarily barred from educational institutions in the event of an epidemic or the threat of one. Health experts say a decline in immunization is contributing to a rise in global measles cases this year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that, as of April 10, a total of 712 confirmed cases of the airborne, highly contagious disease had been reported in the United States this year, compared to 285 cases that were reported last year. The greatest concentration of cases this year is in Texas. Officials declared the disease to be eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Yemen, India, and Pakistan have the world’s highest numbers of reported measles cases in the last six months, according to an April report by the World Health Organization. Kyrgyzstan, which has a population of about seven million, has the seventh highest number of cases in the WHO data. Kyrgyzstan’s healthcare system is likely under a lot of strain because of the surging measles cases, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in March, stating that the deaths of two children had been reported. “Hospitals, clinics, and health professionals are overwhelmed with the high number of patients, leading to longer waiting times, limited resources, and increased workload for medical staff,” the federation said.

Public health Infectious Diseases health security Animal Pox Agriculture Healthcare

Did DIY Butchers Cause Twenty-One Meat Poisonings in Turkmenistan?

A hospital in the eastern Turkmen town of Sayat has admitted 21 people with symptoms of food poisoning, after eating at a restaurant where they were given infected meat. All the patients were kept in hospital for several days, Chronicles of Turkmenistan reports. An outbreak of a disease among camels and cattle, presumably animal pox, was recently recorded in Sayat. The virus began to spread rapidly but has since been halted by epidemiological and veterinary services. The way that dead animals are disposed of in Turkmenistan poses an additional threat. The authorities do not control this process, and many people bury cattle corpses on their own in wastelands or throw them into bushes. Due to this, a new problem has emerged: people, dubbed giçki maslykçylar (“night scavengers”) find recently dead animals, skin them, and cut out the parts of the carcass that have not rotted away. This meat is then sold to cafes and restaurants for 50 manats per kilogram, slightly cheaper than the market price of 60-65 manats for fresh meat. Viral animal pox is spreading among camels and cattle in some countries of Central Asia, including Turkmenistan. The virus causes skin lesions, including papules and pustules, which can lead to mass infections in livestock. If not treated promptly, the disease can spread among farm animals, which can cause mass mortality. In most cases, animal pox does not pose a serious threat to humans, but some strains can be transmitted to people. Diseases such as cowpox and sheeppox can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals. These viruses cause skin rashes and can affect mucous membranes, making them potentially dangerous to humans, especially if precautions are not taken when in contact with them. Local authorities have started inspecting stores and markets selling meat and fish. Sellers who sell products without appropriate certificates from sanitary-epidemiological services are being fined 3,000 to 5,000 manats ($850 to $1400).

Healthcare Outbreak Infectious Diseases

Central Asia Takes Steps to Ward off Mpox after WHO Declares Emergency

Central Asian countries have prepared mpox test kits and taken other precautions since the U.N. World Health Organization said last week that the sharp increase in cases of the virus in Africa posed an international health emergency. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are among countries in the region that say they have not registered any suspected cases of the virus. They are heeding the advice of WHO, which is appealing for a coordinated international response to prevent its wider spread. The U.N. health agency also declared a global health emergency because of mpox in 2022, and cases were reported around the world before declining. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that it has increased sanitary and quarantine measures at airports, railway stations and border crossings, and is focusing on people coming from countries where cases of mpox have been reported. “Today, sanitary and quarantine points are equipped with thermal imagers and contactless thermometers for the timely detection of people with fever,” the ministry said. It added that WHO had assisted with the delivery to Kyrgyzstan of 3,000 PCR tests for detecting mpox in 2022. Some 500 tests were available as of Monday and efforts are underway to procure more tests, according to the ministry. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are also conducting similar precautionary measures. Timur Sultangaziyev, Kazakhstan’s deputy health minister, said methods for detecting people infected with the mpox virus are based on the COVID-19 pandemic and treatment guidelines are in place, according to the Kazinform News Agency. Health officials in Uzbekistan said they are planning for a 21-day medical observation period of anyone who has had contact with a patient sick with mpox. Like other Central Asian countries, they plan to build up their reserve of test kits for the virus. Medical specialists are also being trained in how to handle the disease. Mpox has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC, for more than a decade, with cases increasing each year, according to WHO. The number of cases reported so far this year is more than last year’s total, with more than 15,000 cases and at least 500 deaths, according to WHO. Some other African countries have reported a far smaller number of cases. The DRC outbreak is being driven by two strains – one that mostly affects children, and a new one that “primarily affects adults and is spreading rapidly, sustained largely, but not exclusively, through transmission linked to sexual contact and amplified in networks associated with commercial sex and sex workers,” WHO said. Mpox symptoms can include fever, skin rash, lesions and chills. Most treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. The disease can spread through close contact with an infected animal or person.