In Russia, in January 2023, the incidence of infectious diseases increased sharply, including socially significant diseases – HIV, tuberculosis and syphilis. According to Medvestnik, citing data from Rosstat and reports from Rospotrebnadzor, the incidence of newly diagnosed tuberculosis increased by 10%, HIV – by 20%, gonococcal infection – by 19%.
In addition, the incidence of acute hepatitis increased sharply (+45%). At least 2.6 thousand people fell ill with syphilis in Russia, which is 71% more than in the first month of 2022, Medvestnik writes.
It is noted that the incidence of measles increased significantly over the month: in January 2023, 161 new cases were detected, while in January 2022 only four cases of measles were detected. The incidence of whooping cough and parotitis has also increased.
It is noted that the increase in the incidence of syphilis and hepatitis may be due to the fact that the requirements for doctors related to reporting and requirements to submit data on such patients on time have become tougher. This opinion was expressed by Georgy Vikulov, Director of the Research Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Viral Infections, Head of the Herpes Center of the Moscow State University Scientific and Research Center.
He did not rule out that this could be affected by the coronavirus. According to the expert, based on autopsy data in infectious diseases hospitals, we can talk about the prevalence of reactivated forms of various herpes virus infections in patients who have undergone COVID-19. Vikulov explained that this can cause the growth of some genital diseases.
In addition, he believes, Russia’s special operation in Ukraine could also have influenced the increase in the incidence of certain diseases. The expert clarified that the frequency of intestinal infections increases during hostilities, and in Russia, among the hospitalized participants in the SVO, hepatitis A may just be. According to him, outbreaks of infection often occur during natural disasters and military operations.
The Vedomosti publication also wrote about the increase in the incidence of syphilis, citing data from Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Health. The article reported that the incidence in Russia of acute viral hepatitis B and C, active tuberculosis and HIV has not returned to pre-pandemic levels for the third year in a row. The article provided data from 2019 to 2022.
Larisa Popovich, director of the Institute for Health Economics at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, told the publication that spikes in the incidence of socially significant diseases are often associated with incoming migrant flows.
Source: Rosbalt
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