Kazakhstan strengthens its anti-epidemic protection

Astana, April 28, 2009 (Khabar) - According to the latest data provided by the World Health Organisation which was announced in the Republic’s Ministry for Healthcare, 1600 people have so far been infected with swine flu around the world. In this regard, Kazakhstan is to strengthen its anti-epidemic protection, said the chairman of the Republic’s Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision Department, Anatoliy Belonog. He also issued a decree on toughening the monitoring of infectious diseases. The country’s head sanitary doctor has already initiated the creation of an inter-body commission for fighting this epidemic. All of the Republic’s 6 international airports have been equipped with thermal sensors allowing people with fevers to be detected. Now, the body in charge is working on the provision of such equipment for other regions of the country. All doctors around the state have already been informed about the disease. The Ministry for Health of Kazakhstan is currently consulting with the Novosibirsk Centre for Virology and Bacteriology. According to Anatoliy Belonog, swine flu is resistant to many antibiotics except TAMIFLU. He also stated that Kazakhstan has enough TAMIFLU reserves to fight this infectious disease.

Anatoliy Belonog, chairman, Sanitary and Epidemiology supervision department, Ministry for Health of RK:
- We have all the means for diagnosing this infectious disease. We can perform any analysis or diagnostic procedure. The main prevention measure is aimed at stopping this infection from being brought into the country. All sanitary and quarantine posts are operational in airports, railway stations and motorways. Cargo transport will be under our focus as well as the health of passengers who enter the country.