Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan in the Field of Ensuring Sanitary-Epidemiological Well-Being: Results of Joint Events to Prevent the Importation and Spread of Cholera in the Republic of Tajikistan in 2024 and Prospects for Interaction

The aim of the work wasto analyze key aspects of the implementation of a set of measures to assess the risks of complicating the situation and prevent the importation and spread of cholera in the Republic of Tajikistan.
Materials and methods. The epidemiological analysis of cholera and acute intestinal infections (AII) incidence in the Republic of Tajikistan was conducted based on the reporting materials of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and literature data. As part of the monitoring, 214 samples from environmental objects and 32 samples of clinical material from individuals diagnosed with AII were examined using molecular-genetic and bacteriological methods.
Results and discussion. In accordance with the “Comprehensive plan of joint sanitary and anti-epidemic (prophylactic) measures to prevent the importation and spread of cholera in the Republic of Tajikistan”, reconnaissance activities, joint monitoring studies and training of specialists were carried out. During the reconnaissance assessment, patterns of AII morbidity in the Republic of Tajikistan with a high proportion of AII of unknown etiology, features of the water use system were established, “risk areas” for the development of cholera epidemiological complications were identified (districts of the Khatlon region bordering Afghanistan), where monitoring studies for cholera were subsequently conducted. Based on the monitoring results, active circulation of cholera vibrios in water bodies was established: Vibrio cholerae nonO1/nonO139 DNA was detected in 64.5 % of samples, 6 cultures of V. cholerae O1 and 67 – nonO1/nonO139 serogroups were isolated. The etiology of AII was established in 73.9 % of cases with viruses dominating the structure of infectious agents. DNA of NAG vibrios was detected not only in water samples, but also in a sample of clinical material and wastewater from an infectious hospital, indicating human involvement in the circulation of cholera vibrio. Internal risks of the drinking route of transmission and the fecal-oral mechanism of infection spread in the event of cholera introduction into the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan have been established, which determines the need to develop and implement a set of anti-cholera measures.

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