No cases of monkeypox registered in Kazakhstan. Government reviewed epidemic situation
At the Government session off the agenda was considered sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country against the background of the spread of a new virus of smallpox of monkeys in the world, El.kz cites primeminister.kz.
Deputy Minister of Healthcare Yerzhan Nurlybayev reported that to date in Kazakhstan epidemiological situation is stable, no cases of infection with a rare infectious disease.
In general, since the first registration of the outbreak of monkeypox virus in May 2022 in the world confirmed about 99 thousand cases of the disease, of which 189 lethal. Endemic countries include Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Ghana, Congo, Liberia, Nigeria and Cameroon. In this regard, the Ministry of Healthcare conducts regular risk assessments, including monitoring of the epidemiological situation in neighbouring countries.
Special attention is paid to citizens arriving from African countries and other States where imported cases of infection have been registered. The list of unfavourable countries is constantly updated. Contagiousness, contagiousness of this infectious disease, according to scientists, is not high.
"The occurrence of an outbreak on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan is minimal. Despite this, the Ministry is taking all necessary preventive measures to prevent the importation of this infection.Sanitary-quarantine control at the checkpoints across the state border has been strengthened. Algorithms of action by the medical services for various scenarios have been developed for cases of importation and detection of patients with suspected infection. Measures have been taken to build up the necessary stock of medicines. Repeated cycles of training of medical workers in diagnostic and treatment methods are being conducted locally. A decision of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor and a national emergency plan have been prepared. The situation is under constant control of the Ministry of Healthcare," Yerzhan Nurlybaev reported.
Head of the Government emphasised that there was no cause for concern, but one should not calm down.
"As you can see, so far there is no cause for concern. Not a single case of smallpox of monkeys has not been registered in Kazakhstan. But this is no reason for complacency. The Ministry of Healthcare needs to continue to keep the situation under control and take preventive measures to prevent the infection from entering the country. Especially it concerns strengthening control at airports and border crossings,"Olzhas Bektenov instructed.