Ukraine ready to quickly respond to chera outbreaks – senior health official

Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin addressed the issue while speaking with journalists on June 7, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He recalled that the authorities are thoroughly monitoring the situation as regards the chera threat annually, starting from June 1, since several regions in Ukraine, in particular, the south – Odesa, Mykaiv, Kherson regions, and Crimea – are at risk of outbreaks.

"Strengthened infection monitoring was launched on June 1, so we do not rule out that among the infectious diseases that may occur after the water (level in the flooded areas – ed.) recedes, there may be isated cases of chera. There are risks, which we don’t rule out, but we have ensured that no such cases occur or that they are contained," Kuzin said.

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As the senior health official doctor added, quarantine restrictions will be introduced depending on how many such cases are confirmed, and where.

"Only in case the situation becomes unmanageable are quarantine restrictions applied. Currently, we have the flowing situation: our labs are ready to diagnose chera and, accordingly, routine monitoring is underway in all regions of Ukraine in order to contain the situation in a timely manner, so that in each case of acute intestinal infection, we rule out chera," Kuzin noted.

He said that after the flood levels recede, the maximum number of preventive measures will be applied to prevent the develment of acute intestinal infections, including chera.

"These measures consist in the fact that the relevant territories of the destruction must be disinfected, water must undergo lab tests, in the case of using wells and springs, local water purification technogies and tos are employed. Therefore, after the active phase of this emergency situation subsides, the anti-epidemic service should work actively in the region to prevent both the emergence and spread of chera cases," health official said.

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Currently, according to Kuzin, there is a sufficient number of tos to diagnose acute intestinal infections, including chera.

As reported, on the night of June 6, the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. In Kherson region, the evacuation of the pulation from areas at risk of flooding has begun. Law enforcement have started an investigation under the "ecocide" article of the Criminal Code after the occupiers blew up the dam.

Ukrhydroenergo announced that the Kakhovka HPP is completely destroyed and cannot be restored