Situation of brucellosis in the regions of Stavropol Territory affected by the flood of 2002

The emergency situation caused by inundations and high floods on the rivers in the affected regions exerts no direct influence on brucellosis morbidity among humans. Still the urgent evacuation of agricultural animals in connection with the natural calamity, their displacement and regrouping give grounds to prognosticate the deterioration of the epizootic situation in this infection in a number of regions of the territory where no sufficient veterinary surveillance has been ensured.     

Organizational provision for the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the population in the regions of the Stavropol Territory affected by the flood

Materials on the organizational provision and financing of measures taken with a view to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological safety in the Stavropol Territory in connection with the high flood of 2002 are presented. Due to the joint efforts of sanitary, antiepidemic and medico-prophylactic services of the Territory, administrative organs and institutions, as well as other relevant departments, not only high quality restoration works were carried out and completed in a short time, medical assistance was given to the victims and the appearance of mass infectious diseases prevented, but also the growth social tensions in the affected areas was averted.     

Epidemiologic situation of brucellosis in the regions of the Republic of Dagestan affected by the flood of 2002

The Republic of Daghestan is at present one of the most unsafe territories in the Russian Federation with respect to brucellosis morbidity among humans. The figures of human morbidity in brucellosis grew from 3.4 per 100,000 of the population in 1999 to 10.5 per 100,000 of the population in 2002, thus exceeding the figures for the whole of Russia 15- to 20-fold. The analysis of human morbidity in the Kizlyar region (where the interregional regrouping of the cattle was made) after the natural calamity, as well a in other regions where live-stock was evacuated, indicated that by the end of 2002 an essential deterioration of the epidemiological situation took place in these regions. In view of grave epizootological situation and the absence of epidemiological safety in brucellosis in the Republic of Daghestan the sanitary, epidemiological and veterinary services should, together with other priority tasks in their work aimed at the liquidation of the emergency situation, pay greater attention to measures for the prevention of the spread of brucellosis.     

Rise in the epizootic activity of a natural focus of steppe-type tularemia in Stavropol Territory and its epidemic consequences

One of recurrent autumn and winter rises in the epizootic activity of the steppe-type focus of tularemia in the Stavropol Territory is described. During the tularemia epizooty of 1981-1982 the population of common voles (Microtus arvalis) was very numerous, while the population of house mice (Mus musculus) was comparatively scarce. Francisella tularensis strains were isolated from different species of rodents (Microtus arvalis, Mus musculus, Apodemus sylvanicus, Rattus norvegicus, Lepus, etc.), from fleas and ticks, as well as from environmental objects (well-water, hay). 38 cases of the disease among nonvaccinated persons, mainly in rural areas, were registered. Anginous-bubonic tularemia was the dominant form of the disease. A complex of measures aimed at the detection of tularemia and its liquidation among the population was carried out.     

Epidemiological situation on anthrax in the regions of the Southern Federal District in connection with the flood in June 2002

Data on the epidemiological situation in anthrax in the regions of the Southern Federal District, situated in the zone of inundation, are presented. In 2002 no epidemic complications in anthrax were noted in the affected territories. The causes contributing to the appearance of anthrax cases among humans and animals are presented. Recommendations on the improvement of anti-epidemic measures are given.     

Culture properties of the causative agent of tularemia isolated in natural foci in Stavropol Territory, the Kalmyk ASSR and the Armenian SSR

The strains isolated in natural foci of the Stavropol Territory and the Armenian SSR have been found to belong to the holarctic race of Francisella tularensis, biovar II. In natural foci of the Kalmyk ASSR the strains belonging to biovars I and II have been isolated. The study of the tularecinogenicity of the cultures has revealed the existence of strains which are not sensitive to their own tularecins. The phenomenon of tularecinogenicity in F. novocida has been established. Avirulent strain 319/38 belonging to the non-arctic race is recommended as an indicator strain for the determination of tularecinogenicity.     

Organization of the workers of the State Sanitary and Epidemiologic Services of the Stavropol Territory in the period of eradication of the consequences of the flood in urban and rural regions of the Territory in 2002

As the result of high flood occurring during the period of June 21-22, 2002, in the Stavropol Territory, 65 settlements were affected. About 200,000 inhabitants found themselves lacking centralized drinking water supply. From the very first days of the emergency situation the state sanitary and epidemiological service took a complex of measures aimed at the liquidation of the medico-sanitary consequences of the high flood, the prevention of the appearance of mass infectious diseases among the affected population. As the result of these measures, the appearance of the outbreaks of acute enteric infections, viral hepatitis A aggravations in malaria and other infectious diseases could be prevented.     

Realization of antimalarial measures in the period of eradication of the consequences of a flood in the Stavropol Territory in 2002

As the result of the high flood, an increase in the area of anopheligenic water reservoirs occurred on the inundated territories, which created favorable conditions for the proliferation of Anopheles mosquitoes, the vectors of malarial plasmodia, thus creating the threat of the formation of the local sources of malaria in case of its penetration from other regions unfavorable with respect to this disease. In the affected towns and regions hydrotechnical measures aimed at decreasing the surface of anopheligenic water reservoirs, as well as measures aimed at the decrease in the number of the larval and imaginal stages in the development of mosquitoes, were taken, which made it possible to prevent the probable epidemiological aggravations in malaria.     

Gene typing of infectious tularemia strains isolated from the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories

The typing of F. tularensis strains by four variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) loci has been carried out. Among the strains isolated in the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories seven genotypes have been detected and their spread in different natural foci has been analyzed. The data thus obtained suggest that the VNTR analysis may become an important instrument for studying the structure of the natural foci of tularemia and evolutionary relationships between individual areas of these foci.     

Epidemiological analysis of tularemia in Japan (yato-byo)

Abstract A total of 1372 cases of tularemia observed in Japan since 1924 were analysed. More than 90% of the cases were reported in the north-eastern part of the main island of Japan. After World War II, more than 40 cases were reported yearly for 20 years. Since 1966, however, there have been less than 10 cases per year. Ninety-three % of the cases were caused by contact with infected wild rabbits. The pattern of monthly distribution showed a peak in December and also a lower peak in May. The number of patients older than 40 years of age and the proportion of cases in females have gradually increased. In the earlier survey periods almost 70% of the cases were engaged in agriculture but at present this rate is less than 50%. The changes in the occurrence of tularemia in Japan is thought to be related to the change of life style caused by the rapid growth of the Japanese economy after World War II.     

Organization and execution of the use of disinfectants, insecticides and rodenticides in the period of the eradication of the medical and sanitary consequences of a flood in Stavropol Territory in 2002

Materials on the organization and execution of disinfection, disinfestations and deratization works at the period of the liquidation of the medico-sanitary consequences of the high flood in the Stavropol Territory in 2002 are presented. Timely and full-scope treatment, carried out in the course of these works, played a positive role in preventing epidemiological aggravations among the affected population.     

Prevention of acute enteric infections and viral hepatitis A in the Stavropol Territory in connection with a natural disaster

Materials on the organization and realization of prophylactic measures with respect to acute enteric infections (AEI) and viral hepatitis A (VHA) at the period of the liquidation of medico-sanitary consequences of the high flood are presented. As shown in these materials, the epidemiological surveillance on AEI and VHA in the areas affected by the emergency situation included the effective system of monitoring on these diseases. On the basis of monitoring optimum decisions were taken and concrete prophylactic measures were realized. This made it possible to detect the foci of infectious diseases in due time and efficiently liquidate them, as well as to prevent the development of the epidemiological consequences of the high flood.     

Zoogeographic analysis of the eulophid wasp fauna (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) of Stavropol Territory (Ciscaucasia)

On the basis of climatic and provincial principles, the ranges of 263 eulophid species from Stavropol Territory have been classified into 60 types combined into the following 15 groups: multiregional ranges (6), trans-Holarctic (62), trans-Palaearctic (12), pancontinental (2), super-Atlantic-eastern strictly continental (1), super-Atlantic (3) pan-Atlantic-western continental (66), pan-Atlantic (14), western pancontinental (31), western eurycontinental (9), western transitional (5), Palaearctic disjunctive (60), western Palaearctic tentatively disjunctive (3), Holarctic tentatively disjunctive ranges (1), and tentatively endemics (2 species).