Epidemiological Zoning of the Volga Federal District Territory by the Level of Potential Epidemic Hazard of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Natural Foci

Abstract

HFRS is a relevant threat to the sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population of the Russian Federation. It takes a leading position in the structure of natural-focal ifections of viral etiology incidence around the country. The most unfavorable situation on HFRS morbidity rates (more than 80% of the overall incidence) is observed in the constituent entities of the Volga Federal District (VFD). The purpose of the work is to differentiate the territory of the Volga Federal District in terms of the potential epidemic hazard (PEH) of HFRS infection. Materials and methods. We used information on the HFRS incidence contained in the statistical reporting form No. 1 “Information on infectious and parasitic diseases” and the data on epizootic activity of natural HFRS foci from the established forms of surveys and forecasts of the state of population and the numbers of small mammals over the period of 2014-2018. The assessment of the PEH level of HFRS infection was carried out according to the original method developed with the participation of the authors. The software used was the analytical platform Deductor Professional and the geo-information system Arc GIS. Results and discussion. Among the constituent entities of the Volga Federal District an extremely high level of risk of HFRS infection (6 points), the first type of territories, was established for the Udmurt Republic, the Republics of Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Mordovia, and Chuvash Republic. The second type of territories characterized by high level of risk, where the PEH was 5 points – Samara, Ulyanovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kirov, Saratov, Orenburg regions and the Republic of Mari El. The territories in which there is an increased risk of HFRS infection cover the territory of the Penza Region (PEH – 4 points). The average risk of infection was noted only in the Perm Region (PEH – 3 points). Prompt implementation of a complex of nonspecific preventive measures at sites with a pronounced increase in the potential epidemic hazard of HFRS infection will significantly reduce the incidence rate in the VFD and the Russian Federation as a whole.