Zika virus not threatens Azerbaijan

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Growth of various dangerous infections worldwide, especially fatal swine flu, urges Azerbaijan to take several measures to prevent the penetration of the virus into the country.

The relevant agencies constantly conduct disinfection procedures in crowded places, according to the Ziyaddin Kazimov, the head of the Hygiene and Epidemiology Department of the Republican Center.

He noted that the disinfection procedures have always been carried out in the country, and not only because of the recent alarm.

In connection with the swine flu disinfection procedures are being conducted in the 323 schools and 240 preschools of four big cities of the country such as Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja and Mingachevir starting January 23.

If needed such measures will be carried out in other cities and regions of the country, Kazimov stressed.

Spokesman of Baku Metro Nasimi Pashayev said the disinfection procedures are carried out in the subways as well.

“The metro has its sanitary-epidemiological group. We will conduct this work together with the relevant structures of the Health Ministry."

Azerbaijan Railways has strengthened sanitation on the roads, taking precautionary measures, and carrying out verification of compliance with hygiene standards in the passenger cars.

Many neighboring countries are suffering the deadly virus, affecting more and more people every day. Some 267 schools and all kindergartens of Georgian capital Tbilisi have been closed until February 1, since more than 150 cases of infection were reported in the country starting this year.

In Turkey, for example, H1N1 virus was revealed in 471 people, leaving 57 victims dead.

New alarm -- Zika virus

Meanwhile, the world now faces with another serious virus -- Zika, which has been detected in 23 countries so far.

The virus threatening mainly pregnant women can lead to microcephaly, cases when babies are born with abnormally small heads.

In May 2015, Brazil reported its first case of Zika virus disease, which linked to thousands of birth defects in Latin America.

Cases of the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus have also been reported in some European countries including Germany, Denmark and Switzerland.

Azerbaijan’s chief epidemiologist Ibadulla Agayev voiced transmission of Zika to Azerbaijan is equal to zero, adding that the virus is not typical for the country.

“The virus is not something new for the world. At the time it is spread in Africa. The virus is not typical for Azerbaijan, that’s why there is no reason to exaggerate the issue,” he said.

Agayev also refuted the information that the virus is dangerous only for pregnant women.

“Any ordinary flu may be dangerous both for a child and elderly, in one word, for everyone. However, pregnant women are more vulnerable to the viruses since weakening of the body during pregnancy. Zika virus, in turn, can threaten not only pregnant women, but everyone,” the epidemiologist said.

Specialists claim that Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of the virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).

Agayev noted that not any mosquitoes are able to spread the virus, adding that infection occurs primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.