Number of tick-affected victims up in E Kazakhstan
A greater number of cases of tick bites have been reported among the citizens of East Kazakhstan. The figures for the year exhibited an increase of 6.4%, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the East Kazakhstan Region, a total of 3,927 individuals have been bitten by ticks since April this year. Approximately one-third of the cases involved children under the age of 14. In comparison to the same period last year, the figures demonstrate a 6.4% increase. The prevailing meteorological conditions are identified as a contributing factor.
“The warm autumn, spring, and humid summer facilitated the wide-spread proliferation of ticks. There were especially many casualties in the regional center. 1,917 individuals sought medical attention at hospitals in Oskemen. This figure represents the highest incidence rate in the region, with the Altai region ranking second. Conversely, the lowest incidence was observed in the Ulan district,” Kanat Turdiyev, the head of the department, noted.
Furthermore, the residents themselves have become more aware. As a result of the implementation of awareness-raising initiatives, the general public is now well-informed that ticks can act as vectors for approximately 30 dangerous diseases. Thus, people promptly seek medical attention when necessary. Concurrently, 94% of individuals who sought medical attention for tick bites received immunoglobulin against the tick-borne encephalitis virus. The remaining 237 individuals either presented for vaccination after the optimal window of efficacy had elapsed, had contraindications to vaccination, or had received prior vaccination.
“During the current epidemic season, 11 laboratory-confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis were registered, representing a decrease in incidence rate by one case compared to 12 cases recorded in 2023. Additionally, seven cases of ixodic tick-borne borreliosis were documented, representing a decline of six cases compared to the 2023 figures, which reported 13 cases,” the department hihglighted.
The East Kazakhstan region is a natural focus for tick-borne encephalitis and is classified as an area of increased risk of infection. On average, up to 15 cases of the disease are registered in the region each year.
