Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The epidemiological situation related to plague in Uzbekistan remains stable, with no grounds for concern, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Nurmat Atabekov said, commenting on reports of a suspected plague case in Irkutsk.
According to him, official data from Russia’s Rospotrebnadzor have not yet confirmed that the case registered in Irkutsk is linked to plague, including its pneumonic form. Russian specialists are currently conducting the necessary checks.
Atabekov noted that plague is classified as a particularly dangerous infectious disease caused by bacteria. Natural foci of the infection exist in certain regions of the world. The disease primarily occurs among small mammals and, in most cases, can be transmitted to humans through infected animals and their flea bites.
Uzbekistan has a system of measures in place to prevent the importation and spread of plague and other particularly dangerous infectious diseases from abroad.
In particular, 53 sanitary control points operate at international airports, railway stations and road crossings along the state border. People arriving in the country from abroad undergo medical observation at these points.
In addition, laboratories of territorial sanitary and epidemiological services specializing in the detection of particularly dangerous infections are equipped with the necessary diagnostic tools, culture media, reagents and other laboratory supplies.
Thus, the Ministry of Health emphasizes that the current epidemiological situation regarding plague in Uzbekistan remains stable, while the existing sanitary control system provides measures to prevent the importation and spread of particularly dangerous infections.
