Every tenth Transcarpathian mite can “award” Lyme disease

There is a possibility of infectious diseases outbreak in Transcarpathia, which are carried by insects and rodents. Today, on May 24, the assistant professor of microbiology, immunology, virology, infectious diseases and epidemiology of the Faculty of Medicine in UzhNU Sergei Turyanitsa, the head of the parasitological department of regional Sanitary-Epidemiological station Galina Sitnik and the head of the Department of focal disinfection of Uzhgorod Disinfection station Maria Marushka talked about this in the press-centre “Zakarpattya”.

Sergei Turyanitsa believes that this is a normal annual occurrence. It is in the spring that there are many insects (mites, mosquitoes, cockroaches), which carry infectious agents. However, according to him, in Transcarpathian region there become more and more exotic for us the diseases. For example, Lyme disease, which is carried by mites. About 10% of Transcarpathian mites have the agent of this disease in their endolymph, – says Sergey. – Over the last two years 40 people have been hospitalized with various stages of Lyme disease. And this is an unusual disease, not to mention about the tick-borne encephalitis.
Such worms are transmitted by mosquitoes from dogs.

To avoid infection, the doctor advises all travelers to dress carefully when they go to the woods or even to a city park. It is also necessary to disinfect pets because they may be carriers of these small but dangerous insects.

"There are three species of malarial mosquitoes recorded in Transcarpathia. They are spread all over the country. 50 years ago appropriate measures were taken and since then malaria has not been mentioned as a local disease, but it is brought by guest workers and tourists. Therefore, we are alert. Perhaps due to Euro 2012, this problem may be activated and this may give a start to new cases of local spread"- says Galina Sitnik.

She also noted that it is very simple to deal with the disease. One should put onto the room window a piece of gauze that does not allow mosquitoes to get into an apartment, or use different fumigators. When in the open air use sprays against mosquitoes, and if you are traveling to a foreign trip, ask the tour operator about possible diseases and get vaccinated in the city hospital.
Maria Marushka said that pest control is also important (the complex of preventive and destructive measures on the destruction and control of insects that have epidemiological significance) in residential and office buildings. Today, such work is carried out in all preschools, schools and universities in Uzhgorod. But it is necessary to perform such preventive measures throughout the whole city.

Recently, according to Ms Maria, disinfestation has been carried out across the city. However, the last three years the city government has kept repeating that there is no money in the budget, although this would cost Uzhgorod only 20,000 hryvnia per year.