vector-borne diseases (lat. transmissio - transferring to others) – contagious disease human and animals, whose pathogens are transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods (insects and mites).

Key Facts

• from vector-borne diseases, more than 17% all infectious diseases, more die each year 700 000 human.
• More than 3,9 billion people in more than 128 countries, estimated, the annual incidence is 96 million cases per year.
• More than 100 people die from malaria every year 400 000 man all over the world, in most cases, children under the age of 5 years.
• From such other diseases, like Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis, millions of people around the world suffer.
• Many of these diseases can be prevented with the right protective measures..

The carriers of these diseases are blood-sucking arthropods.: mosquitoes, mosquitoes, flies, flies, blind, lice, pliers, which (except for mosquitoes) live on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

Of the transmissible diseases in Belarus,: tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease, imported malaria and, last years, dirophiliosis.

Brief information about diseases

Tick-borne encephalitis- Tick-borne acute viral disease. Manifested by chills, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, aching pain in limbs. The feverish state is holding on 4-5 days, after which it temporarily disappears, to through 1-2 weeks to resume in the form of a lesion of the meninges: headaches get worse, tension of the occipital muscles joins, photophobia, feeling stunned; possible flaccid paralysis and paresis of the neck and shoulder muscles.

Lyme disease (tick-borne borreliosis)- a tick-borne bacterial disease. Manifested by skin lesions, nervous and cardiovascular systems, musculoskeletal system, general infectious intoxication. In the place where the tick is sucked, in most cases through 1-2 weeks (sometimes before 2 months) an enlarged red spot appears with an enlightened middle (in the future, similar spots appear on other parts of the body). Patients complain of moderate headache, general weakness, malaise. The temperature rises to 38⁰FROM. If timely treatment is not started, the disease becomes chronic with severe damage to the cardiovascular system., nervous systems, liver and musculoskeletal system.

Malaria- disease, caused by blood parasites, which are transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person through mosquito bites, by blood transfusion or syringe injection.

The malaria clinic is notable for its considerable diversity. Its most characteristic signs are febrile attacks with short-term chills., high temperature, headaches and muscle pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, urinary retention - a similar condition persists 6-8 hours and ends with a sharp drop in temperature (to 35-36_­­⁰FROM) and profuse sweating; seizures are repeated 1-2 of the day, but can continue without temperature fluctuations; with untimely treatment, the patient has an increase in the liver and spleen.

Dirofilyariosis- mosquito-borne tissue helminthiasis of carnivorous mammals of the canine and feline families, episodic in humans. Appears after a long latent period (up to a year or more) subcutaneous nodes or moving subcutaneous infiltrates with a sensation of stirring and crawling of a living “worm” inside the seal.

Measures to prevent transmission of transmissible infections:

Immunization against tick-borne encephalitis of occupational risk groups, traveling for seasonal work in the regions of the Urals, Siberia, the Far East and the forest zone of the State Natural Reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha".

Protection from vector attacks while in tropical countries:

• protecting rooms from insects (window meshing) and protection from their bites (installation of bedside gauze curtains, destruction of infested mosquitoes with insecticidal agents using electric evaporators-fumigators; outdoors - treatment of open areas of the body with deterrent drugs - repellents);
• prevention of malaria by taking prescribed antimalarial drugs, starting one week before leaving for a tropical malaria-prone region, the entire period of stay there and more 4-6 weeks after returning home.

During 3 years after returning from a malaria-prone country with each visit to outpatient organizations for any disease, resulting in an increase in temperature, you should inform your doctor about your stay in the malaria focus.

• In residential buildings, nearby (to 3 km) from open reservoirs and premises for keeping livestock windows (window vents) it is recommended to cover with a fine-mesh protective net; inside the building – apply approved insecticidal preparations in various forms (aerosols, spirals, candles, electric fumigators, etc.) with all precautions.

Recommendations for the prevention of tick bites in the forest zone:

• for a walk in the forest, be sure to wear closed clothes – long sleeve shirts, boots, long pants (in boots), gloves, hats;
• it is better to apply means on clothes in advance, repellent insects;
  – if the tick is attached to the skin, it must be carefully removed with tweezers (the tick is removed by twisting movements by the head; the tick must not be pressed or pulled vertically; after tick removal, the wound should be washed, sanitize and wash hands with soap). If, when removing the tick, its head came off, which looks like a black point, the suction site is treated with iodine or any other antiseptic, and then remove the head with a sterile needle (pre-calcined on fire) So, how do you remove a common splinter. During the day, the activity of ticks to attack is not the same. On warm days, they are most aggressive with 8 to 11 h; with the onset of heat, they become inactive. Their aggressiveness resumes with 17 to 20 h.
• Check yourself and clothes for ticks, the more often – all the better. The protective effect is provided by the treatment of clothing with repellents. (deterrent substances). These include repudin, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and spraying or smearing clothing with pyrethroids (pincer pencil “Pretix”). If the tick suction still occurs, initial consultation can always be obtained by phone 103. To remove the tick, you will be sent to a clinic or emergency room. but, if you did not contact the medical institution, in the first two weeks after the bite, take a closer look at your well-being. Fever may be an alarming symptom., weakness, increased redness at the site of the bite. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms of illness appear.

take care of yourself!