"IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN..."

Azerbaijan has strengthened the measures against the spread of hemorrhagic fever Crimea-Congo. Recently, the Minister of Health of Azerbaijan Ogtay Shiraliyev signed an order on intensification of preventive measures. The order was issued after the recent worsening of epidemiological situation regarding Crimea-Congo in the countries bordering with Azerbaijan.

Heads of medical departments and institutions of the Ministry of Health, directors of hygienic and epidemiological centers were instructed to raise awareness of medical workers in connection with hemorrhagic fever of the Crimea-Congo. They are requested to immediately isolate patients with suspected illness, report them to the Republican antiplague station, transmit samples taken from suspected patients to the Republican Anti-Plague Station. In addition, it was ordered to strengthen control over anti-epidemic measures, as well as disinfection.

Risk of spread

What is Crimea-Congo and how is this disease transmitted? Hemorrhagic fever Crimea-Congo is an acute infectious disease that is transmitted through tick bites caused by the hemorrhagic fever virus of Crimea-Congo. The symptoms include fever, intoxication and hemorrhage on the skin and internal organs. Within 1-3 days (maximum 9), the disease causes fever, headache, weakness, pain in joints, nausea, vomiting. It was first discovered in 1944 in Crimea. The causative agent was discovered in 1945. In 1956, a similar disease was discovered in Congo. Studies of this virus have established its complete identity with the virus found in Crimea.

Epidemiologists of Azerbaijan believe that the order of the Minister of Health should not be taken too literally and one should not imagine that this virus has already penetrated into Azerbaijan. The order was issued for preventive purposes. "The risk of spreading in Azerbaijan is quite low," says Rita Ismayilova, deputy director of the Republican Anti-Plague Station of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan. According to her, this disease is not relevant for Azerbaijan, since in our country there are no natural foci of transmission of the Crimean-Congo virus.

Over the past 30 years, the country has not recorded a single outbreak. The specialist notes that fever is a focal disease. Carriers must be present for its spread. These are mites that transmit the infection. As for the arrival of infected foreigners, the doctor noted that medical checkpoints exist at all checkpoints along the Azerbaijani borders. "Crimea-Congo is transmitted only through the bite of mites and through the blood. There are no natural foci of the disease in Azerbaijan," stressed Ismayilova.

The specialist notes that in the wild nature the virus selects rodents, large and small cattle, wild mammals, and ticks as a reservoir. The latter have the ability to transmit the virus to their offspring. "The source of the pathogen is a sick person or an infected animal. The virus is also transmitted as a result of any medical procedures. This injection, blood sampling, etc. For the transmission of the Crimean-Congo virus, there must necessarily be a natural focus, "R.Ismayilova said.

Zero risk...

Fever has infected more than 30 people over the last few days in Iran. The outbreak was recorded in the city of Shiraz. Three of the infected died. But the chief epidemiologist of Azerbaijan Ibadulla Agayev believes that the risk of penetration of the virus from Iran to Azerbaijan is zero. He is sure that the spread of this disease in our country is excluded due to the thorough preventive measures taken by the sanitary services on the borders of the country.

"There is no Crimea-Congo in Azerbaijan and will not be," the country's chief epidemiologist assured.

Usually at a time when neighboring countries are exposed to any epidemic, all our citizens who go there at border checkpoints are warned about the danger of infection and require special care, the doctor said. I. Agayev strongly recommends fellow citizens who are going to go to the Islamic Republic of Iran for any reasons, to refrain from visits to the regions of the country where cases of infection with hemorrhagic fever are noted.

Meanwhile, one more case of the Crimean-Congo fever was recorded in Georgia. A middle-aged woman was sick, her condition is estimated as heavy. Doctors take all measures to save the patient. It is noted that this is already the 14th case of the disease this year with the Crimean-Congo fever in Georgia. Earlier in the year, two or three cases were recorded.

It should be noted that farmers who have direct contact with large and small cattle are at the greatest risk of contracting the Crimean-Congo fever. Therefore, agricultural workers in contact with livestock should use rubber gloves and closed clothing. Of course, this is not very comfortable in the heat, but it is a mandatory measure to protect against ticks.

If patients do not consult the doctors regarding the primary symptoms of the disease, a few days after the bite, the infected person may start bleeding. Despite the fact that the disease is curable, late response in most cases leads to a lethal outcome. Therefore, experts advise patients to be particularly attentive to themselves.