Does the opisthorchiasis spread in Kazakhstan reach Uzbekistan?

Earlier, it was reported that the number of people infected with fish-borne opisthorchiasis is increasing in Kazakhstan. The Sanitary and Epidemiological Committee of Uzbekistan assessed the situation and reported that there is no possibility of this disease spreading in the country.

"We inform you that there have been no cases of opisthorchiasis in our country and no such infection," the committee said in a statement.

It is reported that opisthorchiasis is a biohelminthosis with a natural focus belonging to the group of worm diseases. People and animals that eat fish, as well as bears, are susceptible to this infection. The infection is transmitted by eating raw, under-salted, or insufficiently heat-treated fish from the carp family.

Opisthorchiasis is widespread in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Southeast Asian countries.

The type of the disease known as Opisthorchis felineus is found mainly in Western Siberia, in the area from the Ob River basin to the European part of Russia. The highest risk of infection occurs in river regions: Biryusa, Volga, Dnieper, Don, Irtish, Kama, Ob, Northern Dvina, Ural river regions. The disease also occurs in Kazakhstan and Europe. It is reported that the largest outbreak of opisthorchiasis in the world is located in the Ob-Irtish water basin.

The Opisthorchis viverrini type of infection is almost never found in Russia but is observed in Southeast and South Asian countries, mainly in Thailand.

In 2022, 11,520 cases of opisthorchiasis were recorded in Russia, and the incidence rate was 7.9 per 100,000 population.

In the northern and northeastern parts of Kazakhstan, many cases of opisthorchiasis have been reported in the regions of the Irtish River and its tributaries. Fish infected with opisthorchiasis have also been found around the Ural River.

The main symptoms of opisthorchiasis include:

• A rash on the face and body
• An increase in body temperature to 37-38 degrees, which lasts up to four weeks
• Headaches lasting up to two weeks
• Sleep disturbance, weakness, sweating, and loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Allergic reactions

If the disease is not fully treated, it can lead to liver and heart diseases, and kidney inflammation. The primary source of the disease is fish belonging to the carp family living in rivers.

• Sanitation doctors recommend the following to avoid contracting the disease:
• Do not eat raw, insufficiently salted, or poorly dried fish belonging to the carp family.
• Strictly observe the rules of personal hygiene during or after cutting raw fish.
• Salt fish for 2-3 weeks.
• Fry the fish for at least 20 minutes.

We remind you that earlier, the Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the West Kazakhstan region announced that since the beginning of 2023, 113 cases of opisthorchiasis have been recorded in the region. This represents a 26% increase compared to the same period last year."