Epidemiological Surveillance over Community-Acquired Pneumonia as One of the Means for Biological Safety Provision

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) ranges among the most widely spread emerging infectious diseases both in the Russian Federation and around the world. It is one of the main factors contributing to morbidity and mortality among the population. Adult cohort suffers from community-acquired pneumonia to the highest degree. Lethal cases are often registered in the active working age. According to the statistics morbidity rate for CAP in Russia reaches 14–15 %, while actual value is significantly higher, than the one under record. Total number is approximately 1,5 million cases per year. Base number of infections is accounted for bacterial pneumonia. However considerable part of it is caused by other microorganisms, including viruses. Up-to-date community-acquired pneumonia is of a great epidemiological and clinical value, and development of epidemiological surveillance system is an urging issue, that might allow for elaboration of the methodology for carrying out proper monitoring and preventive measures

Morbidity Rates of Q Fever in the Russian Federation and European Countries: Realities and Problems

Q fever poses a problem, both in the Russian Federation and abroad. Thereat, a new base normative document, sanitary-epidemiological regulations on coxiellosis prevention, has been developed and approved in the Russian Federation. For the first time ever in the world history, a regulated surveillance of community-acquired pneumonias, which will help to improve diagnostics of this pathology, has been introduced in our country. Quality of Q fever control directly depends on the laboratory facilities, qualification of the personnel, and coordination of interagency cooperation. All these factors provide for the prompt assessment of the situation, in-time anti-epidemic measures, and forecasting of the events, which ensures the biological security of Russian Federation

Tularemia Outbreak among the Population of Khanty-Mansiisk and the Khanty-Mansiisk Region, Occurred in 2013

Natural tularemia foci in the territory of the Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District - Yugra are still active and sustainable ones despite of the extended periods of epidemiological welfare. Agent reservoir is the water vole. However, recently tularemia agent has been detected in the northern red-backed vole and common red-toothed shrew. Khanty-Mansiisk town, Berezovsky, Khanty-Mansiisk, Kondinsky, and Oktyabr’sky Regions are situated in the territory of the most active foci. Serious outbreaks of infection among the population occur with an interval up to 30 years. Their transmissibility preconditions the scale and intensiveness. All cohorts are under the risk of exposure, irrespective of the age and occupation, including the infants. The paper discusses tularemia outbreak impact on the population of Khanty-Mansiisk and the Khanty-Mansiisk Region in July-October, 2013. Casualty toll is 1005 cases. Given is a brief retrospective analysis of epidemiological situation on tularemia since 1930-s up to the onset of the outbreak under investigation. Described is the experience in management of the response activities

Complex of Measures Aimed at Prevention of Ebola Virus Disease Importation and Transmission, Performed within the Frames of Sanitary Protection of the Territories of the Russian Federation

An estimated scope of measures, aimed at the prevention of Ebola virus disease importation and transmission in the territory of the Russian Federation, targets the maximum level of hazard to the population. It has a complex interagency character, whereby the Federal service for surveillance in the sphere of consumers rights protection and human welfare functions as coordinator and principal executing agency. The measures affect the following areas: regulatory compliance and methodological support, sanitary-quarantine control reinforcement at the entry points on the state border of the Russian Federation, strengthening of anti-epidemic preparedness of the Rospotrebnadzor and public healthcare institutions and authorities, including operational preparedness of the laboratory facilities, information support within the framework of epidemiological surveillance, and involvement in the activities under the international collaboration for epidemic response and control. Practices have been completed as regards series of actions conducted from the time of the case identification and further on; evacuation of the infected and suspected individuals, procedures for sanitary disinfection, interventions in the relation to contact persons, and readiness for anti-epidemic measures performance

Peculiarities of Epidemiological Situation on Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever in the Russian Federation at the Current stage

Objective. The analysis of epidemiological situation on Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CHF) in the Russian Federation at the current stage, identification of ways to improve the epidemiological surveillance and prophylaxis of the disease. Materials and methods. Data from statistical documentation and results of annual epizootiological monitoring of the CHF natural focus provided by the Administrations of the Rospotrebnadzor, Centers of Hygiene and Epidemiology in entities of the Southern and the North-Caucasian Federal Districts, Reference Centre for CHF monitoring, Research Anti-Plague Institutions and Plague Control stations were used for work. Results and conclusions. The CHF epidemio­logical situation remains unstable, the cases of the disease (including fatal) are registered every year. High activity of the CHF natural focus persists. The northward expansion of CHF natural focus boundaries is observed. The main causes of the unfavorable CHF epidemiological situation are associated with increase in the numbers and period of activity of ticks Hyalomma marginatum due to favorable climatic conditions. The list of priority measures to stabilize the CHF epidemiological situation developed by the Rospotrebnadzor has resulted in decrease in CHF cases by 51.9 % in 2017 compared to 2016 across all the territory of the south of the Russian Federation. The CHF morbidity in 2018 was 1.5 times lower than the average multi-year values (72 CHF patients). The number of CHF cases in comparison to 2017 has decreased by 1.3 times in the Stavropol Territory and by 1.4 times in the Rostov Region. The CHF morbidity has increased in the Astrakhan Region (by 3 times) and Volgograd Region (by 2.3 times). Nosocomial CCHF virus infections cases associated with non-compliance to anti-epidemic regime in hospitals while providing treatment of CHF patients were registered in 2011 (in the Rostov Region) and in 2016 (in the Stavropol Territory). This highlights the need to improve the training of health-care staff for admission of patients with this particularly dangerous infection

Concerning Preventive Activities Providing Control over Morbidity Rates in Reference to Flue, ARVI, and Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the Amur Region in the Post-Flooding Period

It is supposed that after exposure to impacts of the large-scale high water on the background of chronic persistent stress, immune activity of the organism is decreased, which may lead to sanitary-epidemiological implications and contribute to morbidity rate increment as regards a number of relevant nosological entities among the population of the devastated territory. Statistically community-acquired pneumonias are still one of the key factors for infectious morbidity, hospitalization and mortality rate in the region. They are indicators for organization of medical assistance to the population. Therewith, evaluated has been morbidity rate in reference to acute respiratory viral infections and community-acquired pneumonias in the Amur Region for the past three years, assessed has been epidemiological situation throughout 2013. Morbidity rate as regards community-acquired pneumonias in the Amur Region over the surveyed period (2010-2013) has turned out to be two times higher than the national one, and 60-70 % - than that throughout the Far Eastern Federal district. In order to avoid distribution of the acute respiratory viral infections, flue, and community-acquired pneumonias and epidemic foci formation in the territory of the Amur Region in the post-flooding period, established is a complex of sanitary-anti-epidemic (prophylactic) and remedial measures. Besides of that, identified are the main areas of activities aimed at stabilization of the situation as a long term strategy

Specialized Anti-Epidemic Teams: Past, Present, and Future

Described is SAET concept development, beginning from the point of the establishment in 1963 till present moment. Outlined is the fact that SAETs formation, as derivatives of anti-plague institutions, naturally followed from the historical experience in the sphere of public health provision obtained both in the times of war conflicts and peace-time emergency situations (ES) relief. By the specific examples of SAETs participation in liquidation of ES of sanitary-epidemiological character explored is the process of SAET concept development, and governing principles of its functioning. It is demonstrated that the driving force of SAET framework evolution, providing for changes in functional-structural organization and technical facilities through all the stages in time, has been emerging biological threats. Therewith, SAET concept has been developed based on the analysis of the best practices of deployment and integration of advanced technologies and science achievements. An account has been given of modernization of SAET physical facilities and technological base during 2007-2010. Discussed are the SAETs main areas of activities, functions, and tactics of deployment in the modern period. Put forward are the recent changes in SAET concept evolution and tactics of deployment that are occasioned by the incurrence of new operation line - provision of sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population at mass gatherings with international participation

Issues of Scientific and Practical Support of Anti-Epidemic Activities in the Course of Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic Response in West Africa

Consideration is given to the experience of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Guinea in the matter of Ebola fever response. Outlined are the challenging issues regarding scientific support of preventive activities. Provided is a brief characteristic of Pasteur Institute of Guinea as a unique platform for research activities. Covered are the legal aspects of collaboration and priority areas for the development of common initiatives in the sphere of epidemiological monitoring. Identified are the stages of material reinforcement and medical stuff capacity building, including training of specialists with a view to the establishment of effective system for epidemiological surveillance

Epidemiological Peculiarities of Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic, 2013-2015 in West Africa Countries

Represented are the results of analysis of the on-going EVD epidemic, 2013-2015 in West Africa countries. Identified have been epidemiological peculiarities, the principal ones of which are: the scale of epidemic transmission; social factors of widespread occurrence; registration of EVD cases in the new territories of the African continent - West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra-Leone); genetic distinction between Ebola virus and the strains of the same virus, species Zaire ebolavirus, that caused previous outbreaks; prevalence of febrile syndrome over hemorrhagic; high risk of infection with EVD among the healthcare workers. Most probable carriers of Ebola virus may be fruit-bats of the three species - Hypsignathus monstrosus, Myonycteris torquata, and Epomops franqueti. Outlined are the key stages and factors of EVD epidemic development

WAYS TO IMPROVE THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF ANTHRAX IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Presented are summarized data on anthrax epidemiological and epizootiological situation in the Russian Federation. The causes of the unstable situation are analyzed. Characterized are modern clinical and epidemiological features of anthrax infection, as well as key areas for improvement of surveillance and control of anthrax in the current conditions based on a systematic approach and effective interdepartmental cooperation