Growth of tick-borne encephalitis cases is registered in Bashkortostan

The growth of tick-borne encephalitis cases is registered in Bashkortostan this year. According to the deputy head of the Directorate of Russian Agency for Health and Consumer Rights for RB Nasima Kuchimova, while in 2008 14 residents of our republic fell sick with tick-borne encephalitis, for nine months of the current year the number of sick people has grown to 75 people. One case had a lethal outcome.

According to Nasima Kuchimova, about 7% of ticks examined in the laboratory of Sanitary and Epidemiological Centre were infected with encephalitis virus. Those people who consulted a doctor in proper time could escape this disease.

"It is impossible for now to completely eliminate tick-borne encephalitis but it is possible to decrease the morbidity rate" - Nasima Akhmetsafinovna thinks - "It is necessary to intensify educative activities and enlarge the group of persons subject to obligatory vaccination".

Within the framework of the target program, three million roubles was allocated this year against this disease. 30 thousand people whose profession presupposes staying in forests are annually inoculated against tick-borne encephalitis.

According to Nasima Kuchimova, measures for prevention of the growth of morbidity rate will be strengthened next year. Vaccination program will be expanded and special attention will be paid to the regions with the highest morbidity rate.