Sanepid Committee Responds to Concerns of Uzbeks
Uzbekistan
While a wave of rumors about a new global threat has swept through social media, official Tashkent is providing clarity: hantavirus is not a "second COVID," but it is a disease that requires vigilance. As the world discusses outbreaks in Latin America, Uzbek experts from the Sanepid Committee have detailed everything from transmission via ordinary dust to the stringent control measures at the republic's borders.
Amid growing online reports regarding the rise of hantavirus cases worldwide, Nurmat Atabekov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Sanitary-Epidemiological Well-being Committee, issued an official statement. The expert emphasized that the situation in Uzbekistan remains completely stable, with no registered cases within the country.
Key Facts About the Virus
Hantavirus is a zoonotic infection, primarily carried by rodents. Unlike the coronavirus, it does not spread easily from person to person, meaning the risk of a pandemic is virtually non-existent. Infection can occur by inhaling dust containing rodent droppings or through contaminated food. In its early stages, symptoms resemble severe flu: high fever, muscle aches, nausea, and weakness. However, if left untreated, the virus can attack the kidneys, heart, and lungs.
Medical Readiness and Protection Measures
Currently, there is no specific vaccine or universal cure for hantavirus—doctors provide only symptomatic therapy. Consequently, the primary focus is on prevention and monitoring. In Uzbekistan, 53 border checkpoints are under heightened supervision, maintaining sanitary control to prevent the introduction of the infection.
Recommendations for Citizens:
Ensure food products are stored safely from rodents;
Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables;
Regularly ventilate closed storage areas;
Maintain personal hygiene and household cleanliness.
The Ministry of Health urges the public not to panic: virological monitoring is conducted continuously, and the low activity of the virus in the Asian region provides additional security assurances.
Key Facts About the Virus
Hantavirus is a zoonotic infection, primarily carried by rodents. Unlike the coronavirus, it does not spread easily from person to person, meaning the risk of a pandemic is virtually non-existent. Infection can occur by inhaling dust containing rodent droppings or through contaminated food. In its early stages, symptoms resemble severe flu: high fever, muscle aches, nausea, and weakness. However, if left untreated, the virus can attack the kidneys, heart, and lungs.
Medical Readiness and Protection Measures
Currently, there is no specific vaccine or universal cure for hantavirus—doctors provide only symptomatic therapy. Consequently, the primary focus is on prevention and monitoring. In Uzbekistan, 53 border checkpoints are under heightened supervision, maintaining sanitary control to prevent the introduction of the infection.
Recommendations for Citizens:
Ensure food products are stored safely from rodents;
Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables;
Regularly ventilate closed storage areas;
Maintain personal hygiene and household cleanliness.
The Ministry of Health urges the public not to panic: virological monitoring is conducted continuously, and the low activity of the virus in the Asian region provides additional security assurances.
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