THE PROBLEM OF ECHINOCOCCOSIS IN KYRGYZSTAN

The article is devoted to an analysis of the echinococcosis transmission in the Kyrgyz Republic. The authors note that there is an increase in cases of echinococcosis in population in many regions of Central Asia and Russia. From the analysis of official statistics on the disease in population, the Republic records annually about 1.5 thous. cases of echinococcosis and about 200–300 cases of alveolar echinococcosis, and 1,024 surgically treated patients. The annual rate of growth was 14.6% and reached 9.9 per 100 thousand of population, which indicates a 2.6-fold increase in the echinococcosis incidence. These data show a deterioration in the socioeconomic and sanitary and epidemiologic conditions. Echinococcosis is more common among working population whose average age is 35 and older. Up to 67.3% of them are rural residents, and up to 58.4% have close contact with animals. The majority of 1,024 patients surgically treated for echinococcosis, namely, 598 cases, were non-city dwellers and kept dogs in homes. The animal invasiveness depends on a livestock management system and a level of ongoing veterinary measures. The average percent of infected sheep in the Republic is 35.6% among ewes, and 18% among wether hogs; the echinococcus infection rate in stray dogs is 6.4%.