Kyrgyzstan is an endemic area for echinococcosis and alveococcosis. Today, during a briefing, Gulnara Minbaeva, a parasitologist from the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance, highlighted the situation. Annually, the country records around 1,500 cases of echinococcosis and 200-300 cases of alveococcosis.
Minbaeva pointed out that compared to neighboring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan has 2.5 times more cases, categorizing it as a "red zone" epidemiologically. Alveococcosis and echinococcosis are parasitic diseases caused by helminths. Echinococcosis leads to the growth of a large cyst, while alveococcosis forms small bubbles that resemble oncological lesions and erode liver tissues.
The main carriers of these parasites are domestic dogs, although foxes, wolves, and jackals can also be carriers. Minbaeva stressed the importance of prevention, which is easier and cheaper than treatment and long rehabilitation. Following proper dog care rules, regular veterinary visits, and deworming four times a year are crucial preventive measures. During treatment, dogs should be leashed for three days, washed with soapy water under running water, and their feces should be removed and disinfected.
Parents should educate children to wash hands frequently and drink boiled water, as summarized by the doctor.
