By Shakeh Avoyan
Armenian medical authorities have imposed strict controls on all flights from central Russia in an effort to prevent possible spread of cholera from the Volga region hit by an outbreak of the disease. Passengers arriving from the area are questioned and examined by doctors at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport.
About 200 people contracted the disease after swimming in dirty waterways, officials said in the town of Kazan, 800 kilometres east of Moscow. No fatalities have been reported. As a precaution against the intestinal infection spreading, 250 of their relatives were taken to quarantine points, Interfax news agency reported Thursday.
Armenia’s chief sanitary inspector, Vladimir Davidiants, said on Friday the measure will allow the authorities keep the infectious disease at bay. “I officially announce that there will be no cholera in Armenia, these are just preventive measures,” he said.
The most recent outbreak of cholera in Armenia was registered in summer 1999. The authorities sealed off a village 30 kilometres south of Yerevan to contain the spread of the disease.
Armenian medical authorities have imposed strict controls on all flights from central Russia in an effort to prevent possible spread of cholera from the Volga region hit by an outbreak of the disease. Passengers arriving from the area are questioned and examined by doctors at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport.
About 200 people contracted the disease after swimming in dirty waterways, officials said in the town of Kazan, 800 kilometres east of Moscow. No fatalities have been reported. As a precaution against the intestinal infection spreading, 250 of their relatives were taken to quarantine points, Interfax news agency reported Thursday.
Armenia’s chief sanitary inspector, Vladimir Davidiants, said on Friday the measure will allow the authorities keep the infectious disease at bay. “I officially announce that there will be no cholera in Armenia, these are just preventive measures,” he said.
The most recent outbreak of cholera in Armenia was registered in summer 1999. The authorities sealed off a village 30 kilometres south of Yerevan to contain the spread of the disease.