Scientists talked about the contribution of virologists to the fight against infections during the Second World War

The specialists of the N.F. Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology made a significant contribution to the fight against infectious diseases during the Great Patriotic War. At that time, the organization was called the Central Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology (CIEM). His staff was evacuated to Kazan, Alma Ata and Sverdlovsk, where they continued to work on the creation and production of vaccines and biologics that the front needed.

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The scientists have already prepared the groundwork, which helped to achieve results in a short time. Despite all the difficulties of wartime, virologist Mikhail Morozov managed to improve the smallpox vaccine created earlier in the Soviet Union.

"During the war, he improved the method of obtaining the drug — he created a dry and heat-resistant vaccine. So much was produced that Professor Rogozin, who was the head of the Ministry of Health at the time, said that "if it hadn't been for Morozov, we would have lost several divisions." That's how she was needed by the front," said Natalia Karazhas, head of the Museum of the N.F. Gamalei Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

According to Petr Falaleev, associate Professor of the Department of History of Medicine and Social Sciences and Humanities at the Institute of Humanities of Pirogov University, as a result of the work of doctors, the share of infectious diseases in the total incidence in the Soviet Army during the Great Patriotic War was only 9%.