Russians face an ongoing risk of contracting dangerous insect-borne infections during the late summer months, medical expert Natalia Miropolskaya has warned.
Speaking to news agency TASS, Miropolskaya, a candidate of medical sciences and associate professor of polyclinic and social pediatrics at Pirogov University, highlighted Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and West Nile virus as major concerns in southern Russia.
Miropolskaya noted that residents cannot rely solely on the calendar to judge when infection risks subside. Epidemiological conditions vary each year based on ambient temperatures, rainfall levels, insect vector populations, and the activity of natural disease foci.
Tick-Borne Infection Risks
Ticks in the country's southern regions carry viruses including tick-borne viral encephalitis and Lyme disease, also known as borreliosis. However, Miropolskaya emphasized that Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever holds particular epidemiological significance for southern Russia.
The virus spreads to humans through the bites of infected ticks or via direct contact with the blood and tissues of infected animals.
Anyone who discovers an attached tick after spending time outdoors should remove the parasite properly and seek medical attention within 48 to 72 hours. Prompt medical evaluation is critical if a fever develops alongside weakness, headache, or other unusual symptoms.
Mosquito Viruses and Stable Flies
West Nile virus is transmitted primarily by mosquitoes and maintains established natural foci across southern Russia. The infection can manifest either as a mild illness or as a severe condition involving damage to the central nervous system.
Miropolskaya clarified that a tick or mosquito bite does not automatically guarantee infection, as transmission occurs only if the individual insect carries the pathogen.
The expert previously warned that late summer and early autumn also mark a surge in activity for the blood-sucking autumn stable fly across Russia.
Pirogov University, officially known as Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, is a major medical education and research center based in Moscow. Southern Russian territories routinely track seasonal vector activity due to warmer regional climates that extend insect breeding cycles.
