The sanitary-epidemiological service of Kazakhstan has successfully eliminated a cholera outbreak originating from a case detected on an Air Astana flight from Delhi to Almaty.
According to Astana TV, with reference to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the infected citizen of Kyrgyzstan has undergone successful treatment and has been discharged from the hospital. She was traveling to Bishkek, and all 154 contacts (fellow passengers) have been released from observation.
The prompt actions of the sanitary-epidemiological service specialists have allowed for the timely detection and containment of the infection, preventing the spread of cholera within the country. Laboratory tests on the contacts have returned negative, and medical observation has been lifted from all 154 individuals.
For those planning to travel to countries with a high incidence of cholera, such as certain regions in Africa and Asia (including India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan), the Ministry of Health strongly advises:
- Drink only boiled or bottled water;
- Avoid using ice to cool beverages;
- Properly cook food before consumption;
- Wash fruits and vegetables only in boiled or bottled water;
- Maintain hand hygiene, washing hands with soap before every meal and after using the toilet;
- Swim only in authorized water bodies, avoiding water entering the mouth;
- Seek medical help immediately upon the first signs of illness, avoiding self-medication.
Earlier reports indicated that a woman with suspected cholera was identified on a flight from Delhi, India, to Almaty.
