Put on your masks!

A flu epidemic has begun in Russia. It started on both sides. At the end of last week, an epidemic was announced in Nizhny Novgorod, and yesterday the corresponding order was signed by the chief sanitary doctor of Yekaterinburg, Viktor Chirkov.

In Yekaterinburg, the epidemic threshold for the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory infections has already been exceeded almost twice. In Nizhny Novgorod, 15 thousand people fell ill, including 10 thousand children. There the epidemiological threshold was exceeded four times. Residents of Yekaterinburg and Nizhny Novgorod suffer mainly from traditional forms of influenza (viruses A and B), which are characterized by high fever, dizziness, and body aches.

Children are especially susceptible to infection. Thus, the incidence rate among schoolchildren exceeds the statistical average by more than four times. In Nizhny Novgorod, as of January 29, 25% of schoolchildren fell ill, which is only 10% less than the level at which classes could be interrupted.

Regional authorities are quickly developing a program to combat the epidemic. Clinics are urgently setting up rooms with a separate entrance for receiving flu patients. Funds have been allocated for the purchase of cotton-gauze bandages for public transport workers, employees of cafes, shops, cinemas and discos. The Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Service strongly recommends that all work teams use such bandages during an epidemic. Employees of commercial structures have been asked to create certain reserve funds, the funds of which will be used for anti-epidemic measures.

Doctors take total control of all public places. An inspection schedule and a system of fines have been developed: if any representative of “public” professions ends up at the workplace without a cotton-gauze bandage, he risks losing part of his earnings. True, so far there has been no information about such facts, and journalists do not rule out that rumors about fines are being spread specifically as part of a medical PR campaign.

According to forecasts, the epidemic will subside in three to four weeks. However, in Yekaterinburg, complications of the situation cannot be ruled out. In this case, all nightclubs, discos and theaters in the city will be closed. Draft relevant resolutions and orders have already been developed.

Victor BELIMOV, Ekaterinburg, Natalya REZONTOVA, Nizhny Novgorod