Muscovites were taken under the wing – Kommersant

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin introduced quarantine in several districts of the capital in connection with identified cases of bird flu. The focus, according to the order, was located in the south of the city Borisovsky pond. Rospotrebnadzor assured that there are no risks to the life and health of Muscovites. Infectionists, with whom Kommersant spoke, confirmed that the probability of contracting bird flu for the townspeople is extremely small, but they nevertheless advised feeding ducks in ponds at an impressive distance.

Rospotrebnadzor said that there are no risks to the life and health of residents of the capital due to the spread of the influenza virus among birds. “There are no cases of human infection with avian influenza in Moscow. The situation with zoonotic infections on the territory of the Russian Federation is under constant control of Rospotrebnadzor,” the supervisory service assured.

On Thursday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin “in connection with the detection of a case of wild birds with highly pathogenic avian influenza on May 16” introduced quarantine in several districts of the city. Hearth, it says in disposal the head of the city, became Borisovsky Pond (Orekhovo-Borisovo North).

The areas of Brateevo, Kapotnya, Maryino, Lyublino, Pechatniki, Moskvorechye-Saburovo, Tsaritsyno, Biryulyovo East, Orekhovo-Borisovo North and South, Zyablikovo are recognized as a threatened zone.

The observation zone is all territories adjacent to them. The document states that any operations related to poultry farming (import and export of poultry and eggs, slaughter of birds, walking birds, treatment of sick birds, removal of feathers and down from birds, etc.) are prohibited on the territory of the epizootic focus. Import and export of poultry, procurement and export of feed for birds, keeping poultry for walking, as well as holding agricultural fairs and other events related to the mass accumulation of birds and animals of other species. Restrictive measures will be in effect “until the implementation of measures aimed at preventing the spread and eliminating the focus of highly pathogenic avian influenza.”

The Rosselkhoznadzor reported that the infection was found after examining the corpses of gulls near Borisovsky Pond and the coastal area of ​​the Gorodnya River. The places where seagulls died were declared epizootic foci.

Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases at RUDN University Sergei Voznesensky explained to Kommersant that quarantine measures are due to veterinary aspects – they apply only to birds and those people who are in contact with wild or farm birds. There are no restrictions for the population. At the same time, according to him, the avian flu is “potentially very dangerous for humans.” The infectious disease specialist, head physician of the Leader-Medicine clinic Evgeny Timakov clarifies that if a person becomes infected, the probability of death is from 10% to 40%, depending on the subtype of the bird flu virus. However, such infections are rare.

At risk are those who directly work with poultry on farms. In addition, Mr. Timakov notes, people can become infected after close contact with wild birds, for example, children who hold such a bird in their hands.

It is important that the bird flu virus is not transmitted from person to person. “Therefore, it is extremely premature today to say that it causes mass diseases,” Sergei Voznesensky continues. “This probability has existed for more than one year and more than one decade, and if this happens, it will be an extremely serious problem. But so far this has not been recorded in any country in the world.”

At the same time, during outbreaks, Evgeny Timakov believes, it would be right to limit contact with migratory birds during their migration period. “Now birds come to us from other countries, so in parks, near lakes and reservoirs where there is a risk of carrying the disease, it really makes sense to introduce quarantine in order to theoretically reduce the risks of morbidity,” he says. “So if we see ducks, don’t come close to them, you can feed from afar, without touching the ground on which they walk, after washing their hands. And of course, do not approach the dead birds.

In Moscow, according to Yevgeny Timakov, bird flu quarantines were extremely rare, except for restrictions on visiting certain water bodies. However, he points out, the level of detection of various viruses is growing every year, respectively, and the quality of preventive measures to spread not only bird flu, but also other diseases.

On May 5, it became known that foci of infection with avian influenza were detected in five districts and cities of the Kirov region. The government of the region reported that the death of several gulls was recorded in the Nemsky and Falensky districts. As a result of laboratory tests, they found the influenza virus. The governor of the Kirov region, Alexander Sokolov, decided to introduce a high alert regime in the region.

On the same day, we note that the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense forces of the RF Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, made a statement that the Pentagon, through the Ukrainian Scientific and Technical Center, assessed the conditions in the Azov-Black Sea region under which bird flu could become uncontrollable. “During the implementation of the project, the conditions were assessed under which the transmission of the virus could become uncontrollable, cause economic damage, and create food security risks,” said Mr. Kirillov.

Natalia Kostarnova