Following reports of a suspected case of a highly dangerous infection in Russia, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health announced preventive measures, infohub.kz reports.
According to the website of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the agency is actively monitoring the situation in the Irkutsk region. In Kazakhstan, it remains under constant control, and preventive measures have been taken.
"Sanitary and quarantine control is being carried out at checkpoints across the state border. No individuals with elevated temperature, signs of illness, or suspected highly dangerous infections have been identified on any mode of transport. According to preliminary assessment, the risk of the infection being imported into Kazakhstan remains low. The assessment of the situation and the measures taken will be updated as official information becomes available," the ministry said.
Kazakh citizens were advised: if symptoms appear after travel, they should promptly seek medical care and inform the doctor of their places of stay and travel dates.
"According to available data, Russian specialists are currently conducting an epidemiological investigation. The final diagnosis has not yet been officially confirmed; the source and circumstances of possible infection are being established. 197 contacts are under medical observation. According to available data, no signs of illness have been detected in them, and laboratory test results are negative. Necessary anti-epidemic measures are being carried out at the Shelekhov District Hospital," the Ministry of Health added.
The agency emphasized that, according to the latest data from Rospotrebnadzor, the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, Irkutsk, and Shelekhov is stable, with no cases of plague detected. The cause of death of a 28-year-old woman in the Irkutsk region is described as pneumonia of undetermined etiology.
Recall that earlier media reported that an employee of a plague control institute in Russia's Irkutsk region died with suspected plague. It was assumed that the deceased had accidentally broken a test tube containing a dangerous bacterium in the laboratory while collecting biomaterial for diagnosis.