The incidence of acute respiratory viral infections is sharply increasing in Russia. What you need to know

Within one week, the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in Russia increased by almost 64%, and in some regions the number of new patients doubled. The spike in infections occurred against the background of the end of the holiday season and the beginning of the school year, which is why quarantine has already been introduced in some schools. What is the current epidemiological situation and how to protect yourself from colds — in the material of Izvestia.

The situation with morbidity

• Since the beginning of autumn, there has been an increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) in Russia. Rospotrebnadzor reported that during the week from September 8 to September 14, the number of cases in the country increased by 63.8%, totaling over 696 thousand cases. At the same time, the incidence among schoolchildren is even higher — the number of patients has doubled.

• The frequency of COVID-19 infections has also increased. During one week, more than 15 thousand cases of diseases were registered. At the same time, Rospotrebnadzor notes that the overall level of COVID-19 infections remains low.

• The current morbidity situation in Russia does not go beyond the usual. The increase in infections is explained by the end of summer holidays and the mass return of people home. Moreover, with the start of the new school year, organized children's groups are being formed again, in which diseases are transmitted much faster. The flu situation in Rospotrebnadzor is not yet a cause for concern. The ministry notes that 10 million people have already been vaccinated against influenza as part of the all-Russian campaign.

• So far, the epidemiological level in Russia has not been reached. According to some forecasts, the increase in infections will continue in November and December, and the peak incidence will begin after the winter holidays. Only in March, the number of new patients with acute respiratory viral infections will begin to decrease.

The situation with morbidity in the regions

• The epidemiological situation is different in different parts of Russia. Thus, in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the incidence rate has exceeded the national average. In the last week, doctors diagnosed ARVI in 16,642 residents, while 7923 diagnoses were made in the previous similar period, that is, the increase exceeded two times the value. More than half of the new cases are schoolchildren.

• The number of SARS cases has almost doubled in Yakutia. In total, more than 7 thousand cases were recorded in the republic during the week, which is 97% more than at the beginning of September. The local department of Rospotrebnadzor attributed this increase to the cold snap and the start of the school year.

• In some regions, local authorities have begun to temporarily close schools due to a sharp spike in the incidence. A complete lockdown, according to the head of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection, Sergei Leonov, is not planned. However, in Ryazan, the educational process was suspended in grades 12 out of five schools in the city. Quarantine measures are also in effect in three classes from two schools in Balakov, Saratov region. Distance learning has been introduced in Yuryuzan and Katav-Ivanovsk, Chelyabinsk region, due to exceeding the 20% morbidity threshold among schoolchildren.

Be treated well: regions have begun to quarantine schools due to SARS and flu

The authorities of ten regions of the country warned about the increase in morbidity

• At the same time, where the weather is relatively warm, the situation with seasonal diseases is better. For example, in the Novosibirsk region, the beginning of autumn turned out to be milder than usual. Due to this, 15% fewer cases of acute respiratory viral infections were registered than in the second week of September last year. A total of 24,379 people were infected in the region from September 8 to September 14.

How to avoid infection

• To avoid infection with seasonal diseases, Rospotrebnadzor recommended avoiding mass gatherings of people and limiting personal contacts. This is especially necessary when the first signs of malaise appear. If symptoms develop, you should stay at home and seek medical help.

• Thorough disinfection of your home helps to protect yourself from diseases. It is necessary to treat door handles, light switches, chair backs, tables, shelves and chest lids with antiseptic. Special attention should be paid to kitchen surfaces, household appliances, and personal hygiene items to ensure that they always remain clean and disinfected. If there is a patient at home, daily cleaning with wet cleaning should be carried out.

• Also, to prevent diseases, you need to wash your hands frequently, use skin antiseptics and wet wipes. You can cough and sneeze only in disposable handkerchiefs, and if there are none, then in the crook of the elbow, but not in the palm of your hand. In autumn, it is important to dress according to the weather, even if due to the abundance of sun it seems that the temperature is still high. Taking vitamins and proper nutrition with the rejection of bad habits can help to pass this period without complications. In addition, flu vaccination also helps protect the body well.