Over 40 Million Cases of Infectious Diseases Registered in Russia Annually

According to the press service of the Ministry of Health of Russia, over 40 million cases of infectious diseases are registered in the country annually. Of these, 90% are acute respiratory infections and flu. In Russia, flu epidemics are almost annual. Over the past three years, the annual number of flu cases fluctuated between 2 and 7 million.

According to the data of the World Health Organisation, in 2002 and 2003, in Russia, the increase of the number of flu cases will be due to the migration of the viruses of A subtype (НЗN2 and NIM) and B subtype.

The last flu epidemic in Russia occurred between the end of November 2001 and April 2002. About 5.2% of the population of Russia came down with that flu. The most cases occurred in the Republic of Altai and the cities of Barnaul, Perm, Omsk, and Chelyabinsk. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the number of cases remained below epidemic level. Over Russia, while the epidemic lasted, 13 deaths due to flu and its complications were reported.

Physicians believe, inoculations remain the best way to prevent flue.