The most important component of strengthening the potential for responding to biological threats both at the national and interstate levels is the formation of a unified system for monitoring and responding to emergencies (ES) of sanitary-epidemiological nature in the CIS territory.The aim of the work was to review the systems for monitoring and responding to emergencies of sanitary-epidemiological character in the CIS countries by the example of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, to characterize the main areas of international cooperation on countering biological threats and coordinating international response measures in the CIS countries.Materials and methods. Information and analytical materials provided by organizations responsible for epidemiological surveillance and control in the CIS countries, Internet sources, and publications were used for the study.Results and discussion. The organization and functioning of the systems for monitoring and responding to emergencies in the CIS countries is a state function. It includes, as a rule, the national, regional (sub-national) and territorial (local) levels, which have horizontal and vertical connections. The legal framework is made up of documents of the legislative level. Interdepartmental interaction in response to emergencies is carried out both at the republican level and in administrative territories; the basis for interaction is the integrated planning of preventive and anti-epidemic measures and the functioning of the relevant organizational structures on an ongoing basis. Since 2015, with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation, programs have been implemented aimed at assisting partner countries in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) in order to increase national response capacity and form a unified sanitaryepidemiological emergency response system in the CIS countries. The main areas of collaboration are strengthening the material and technical base and human resources of specialized institutions and scientific cooperation. As a result of the program implementation, a unified system for monitoring and prompt response to emergencies in the field of public health of sanitary-epidemiological nature has essentially been formed in the CIS countries to date, uniting more than 15 specialized institutions from 8 CIS countries.

We conducted an outbreak investigation from June 3 to 15th in a rural village in northern Kazakhstan, after surveillance showed an increase in gastroenteritis. Cases were residents who presented for medical treatment for diarrhea, fever (>37.5 °C), vomiting, or weakness from May 14 to June 15, 2021. Controls were residents matched by age ±2 years at a ratio of two controls for every case. Cases and controls were interviewed using structured questionnaires. We abstracted clinical data from medical records. We mapped cases and assessed risk for disease using conditional multivariable logistic regression. We identified 154 cases of acute gastroenteritis (attack rate of ~26 per 1,000 inhabitants). Symptoms were diarrhea, fever, vomiting, weakness, and decreased appetite. Among cases that participated (n = 107), 74% reported having drank unboiled tap water vs 18% of controls (n = 219). This was the only risk factor associated with disease (adjusted odds ratio: 18; 95% CI 9–35). Drinking water from a dispenser or carbonated drinks was protective. The city has two water supply networks; cases were clustered (107 cases in 79 households) in one. The investigation found that monitoring of quality and safety of water according to national regulations had not been conducted since 2018. No fatalities occurred, and no associated cases were reported after our investigation. Results suggest that untreated tap water was the probable source of the outbreak. The water supply had been cleaned and disinfected twice by the facility 2 days before our investigation began. Recommendations were made for regular monitoring of water supply facilities with rapid public notification when issues are detected to reduce likelihood of future drinking water associated outbreaks.

SARS-CoV-2 researchers faced the problem of specificity for ACE-2 receptors. In mice and rats, ACE-2 has a low affinity for this virus. In contrast, the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) when infected with SARS-CoV-2 show clinical signs of infection with this virus. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the severity of pathological lesions and immune response for relevance to preclinical new drugs against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we studied blood counts, serum levels of Il-6, TNF-?, IFN-? and IFN-? and the histological state of the lungs of Syrian hamsters. In our study Syrian hamsters showed clinical signs of COVID-19. In infected animals, a decrease in the level of leukocytes and granulocytes was noted. There was some suppression of the immune response, without an increase in the main biomarkers of ARDS. The exception was high levels of TNF-?. Histological examination showed an early exudative phase of moderate ARDS. There were no significant gender differences in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, it was shown that infection with COVID-19 in young Syrian hamsters is modeled with moderate severity, and can be applied in preclinical studies.