What virus is circulating in Tajikistan: coronavirus or influenza?

18:11, todayAuthor: Manzuma Firuz, Asia-Plus

The Ministry of Health of Tajikistan denies information about a new strain of coronavirus that is allegedly currently circulating in the country.

Navruz Jafarov, head of the Department of Epidemiological Safety, Emergency Situations and Ambulance of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus that not a single case of Covid-19 has been registered in Tajikistan.

“And the flu that is currently circulating in our country is seasonal, and there is no cause for concern,” he said.

Let us remind you that since February 18, 2022, not a single case of coronavirus has been detected in Tajikistan.

Meanwhile, many Dushanbe residents are not complaining about some infectious disease that has recently affected both adults and children. In terms of symptoms, this is similar to Covid-19, as it causes complications very quickly in the lungs and bronchi.

However, according to Jafarov, the results of tests in the laboratory have already confirmed that this is not a coronavirus, but a seasonal influenza virus.

Flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms

He noted that both viruses cause similar symptoms, including cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, headache and weakness.

“Both COVID-19 and influenza can occur with varying degrees of severity. The course of the disease can be asymptomatic, mild, or severe in both children and adults,” he noted.

According to Jafarov, pneumonia (pneumonia) is a common and dangerous consequence that occurs against the background of influenza. And it can develop due to direct penetration of the virus into the lungs or when, during development, along with a viral bacterial infection.

“Complications of the flu lead to pneumonia. This is dangerous for children and people with heart or lung disease. Pneumonia usually causes high fever and seizures in children. So many people think it’s coronavirus, but it’s not. It’s seasonal flu , which is registered every year,” added the representative of the Ministry of Health.

There is no flu vaccine in the country

10:00 October 9

As experts note, the most effective way to prevent influenza is vaccination, but after some time after vaccination, immunity weakens, therefore, to protect against influenza, it is recommended to carry it out annually.

Vaccination is especially important for people who are at high risk of developing complications from influenza and their caregivers.

But, as the head of the Department of Epidemiological Safety, Emergency Situations and Ambulance of the Ministry of Health noted, at the moment there is no vaccination against influenza in the country.

It is worth noting that for the prevention of children, from November 20 to 30, Tajikistan carried out mass immunization against pneumococcal infection among vulnerable children aged from one and a half to 5 years. As part of this campaign, more than 838 thousand children of the specified age were vaccinated in 65 cities and regions of the country, including Dushanbe.

Jafarov also added that vaccination against Covid-19 is still ongoing in the country. He noted that anyone can be vaccinated with the country’s CoronaVac vaccine, developed by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac.

Pneumonia outbreak in the world

18:00 December 2nd

Meanwhile, Denmark, France and the Netherlands are also reporting an increase in cases of pneumonia in children caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. An uptick in cases was also recorded in one district in the American state of Ohio.

Last week, European experts conducting mycoplasma surveillance at 45 centers in 24 countries reported that the incidence, which had fallen to less than 1% during the pandemic, had begun to rise again earlier in the year.

There has also been an outbreak of pneumonia in China. After a request from WHO, the country’s authorities reported that the disease is not caused by a new and previously unknown virus, but by ordinary seasonal viruses.

Away from people

The Ministry of Health specialist finally advised Tajiks to consult a doctor if they become ill and not to self-medicate. Jafarov noted that anyone can get the flu, and the degree of infection among children is highest.

It recommends maintaining a distance of at least 1 meter from others, wearing a well-fitting mask when social distancing is not possible, avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated rooms and spaces, maintaining adequate indoor ventilation by opening windows or doors, and performing frequent hand hygiene.

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