Influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections are the most common contemporary infectious diseases resulting in prominent harm to human health and great economic damage. At least five groups of viruses including more than 300 subtypes are currently referred to ARVI pathogens. Such infectious agents are characterized by variability resulting in their altered antigenic characteristics, increased contagiousness, "evasion from immune response and resistance to antivirals. Relevance of influenza and other ARVIs is also accounted for by rapid development of bacteria-associated respiratory diseases. Continuous variability of influenza viruses and emergence of new ARVI pathogens pose a serious threat. In recent years, a simultaneous circulation of subtype A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) influenza viruses with a predominance of a pandemic strain as well as type B viruses have been observed. Among the causative agents of non-influenza ARVIs, respiratory syncytial virus, rhino- and adenoviruses, and I/III parainfluenza viruses are recorded most often. Here we present the data of virology and serological examination of clinical samples collected during the 2018 – 2019 epidemic season in the Republic of Kazakhstan. For this, 2794 clinical samples (2530 nasopharyngeal swabs and 264 blood serums) were collected from patients diagnosed with ARVI, ARI, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Analysis of nasopharyngeal swabs for detection of influenza by RT-PCR demonstrated that mixed etiology influenza viruses with predominance of A/H1N1pdm virus circulated in Kazakhstan. The genetic fingerprints of influenza virus were found in 511 swabs (20.20% of total examined samples). Influenza A virus RNA was detected in 508 biological samples: A/H1N1 – in 289, A/H3N2 – in 209, and unidentified virus subtype in 10 samples. Type B influenza virus was detected in 3 samples. Study of 264 serum samples by HAI assay and ELISA showed emergence of antibodies against influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B viruses in residents from various regions of Kazakhstan that indirectly confirmed co-circulation of these viruses. 42 influenza virus strains were isolated in chicken embryos, from which 28 were assigned to A/H1N1pdm virus, 13 to A/H3N2 virus, and one isolate was identified as influenza B virus. Laboratory diagnostics of clinical samples for ARVIs established that among identified non-influenza agents respiratory syncytial virus dominated, while rhinoviruses and adenoviruses were less common. Metapneumoviruses, bocaviruses, coronaviruses, and type I parainfluenza viruses were detected in few cases. Comparison of study data with those obtained after examining circulation of influenza viruses during the 2017 – 2018 epidemic season showed that in 2018 – 2019 in Kazakhstan similar to the previous epidemic season, influenza A and B viruses continued to circulate, with prevalence of A/H1N1pdm virus. Identification of non-influenza viruses causing respiratory infections in 2018 – 2019 showed predominance of respiratory syncytial virus, which correlated with data on the 2017 – 2018 epidemic season.

A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t SummaryThis study was addressed to epidemiological surveillance of measles virus (MV) in the territory of Republic of Kazakhstan during 2015 -2016 years. In our study we have detected D8 genotype of MV occurred in outbreak season of measles disease. Totally 2341 cases were registered and 19 of them were identified by genotyping. As a result, 16 samples attributed to subgroup A of D8 genotype, and 3 import cases were represented by B3 and H1 genotype of MV. Vaccination coverage analysis showed that large group of infected people were not vaccinated and did not have a reliable report on vaccination status. This issue might increase the morbidity rate among the healthy population in outbreak season. To prevent the incidence caused by this problem we have successfully introduced necessary epidemiologic arrangements in controlling of measles.

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Background and Aims Seroprevalence studies are needed to determine the cumulative prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and to develop pandemic mitigation strategies. Despite the constant monitoring and surveillance, the true level of infection in the population of Kazakhstan remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the sero‐prevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the main cities of Kazakhstan. Methods The research was conducted as a cluster‐randomized cross‐sectional national household study in three cities of Kazakhstan. The study covered the period: from October 24, 2020, to January 11, 2021. A total of 5739 people took part in the study. All participants agreed to be tested for antibodies to IgM/IgG. Demographic characteristics were analyzed. The presence of symptoms of respiratory diseases and the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing were determined. The antibodies to the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus were detected using the method of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results There was significant geographic variability with a higher prevalence of IgG/IgM antibodies to SARS‐CoV‐2 in Almaty 57.0%, in Oskemen 60.7% than in Kostanay 39.4%. There were no significant differences in prevalence between men and women ( p ≥ 0.05). In Almaty, only 19% of participants with antibodies reported the presence of respiratory symptoms during a pandemic. At the same time, the percentage of patients with antibodies who had respiratory symptoms was 36% in Oskemen and 27% in Kostanay. Conclusion The findings indicate that despite reasonable level of seroprevalence, the country has not yet reached the baseline minimum of herd immunity scores. The prevalence estimates for asymptomatic or subclinical forms of the disease ranged from 64% to 81%. Thus, given that almost half of the population of Kazakhstan remains vulnerable, the importance of preventive strategies such as social distancing, the use of medical masks, and vaccination to protect the population from the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 is highly critical.

Bulletin the National academy of sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2 NAS RK is pleased to announce that Bulletin of NAS RK scientific journal has been accepted for indexing in the Emerging Sources Citation Index, a new edition of Web of Science. Content in this index is under consideration by Clarivate Analytics to be accepted in the Science Citation Index Expanded, the Social Sciences Citation Index, and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index. The quality and depth of content Web of Science offers to researchers, authors, publishers, and institutions sets it apart from other research databases. The inclusion of Bulletin of NAS RK in the Emerging Sources Citation Index demonstrates our dedication to providing the most relevant and influential multidiscipline content to our community. Қазақстан Республикасы Ұлттық ғылым академиясы "ҚР ҰҒА Хабаршысы" ғылыми журналының Web of Science-тің жаңаланған нұсқасы Emerging Sources Citation Index-те индекстелуге қабылданғанын хабарлайды. Бұл индекстелу барысында Clarivate Analytics компаниясы журналды одан əрі the Science Citation Index Expanded, the Social Sciences Citation Index жəне the Arts & Humanities Citation Index-ке қабылдау мəселесін қарастыруда. Web of Science зерттеушілер, авторлар, баспашылар мен мекемелерге контент тереңдігі мен сапасын ұсынады. ҚР ҰҒА Хабаршысының Emerging Sources Citation Index-ке енуі біздің қоғамдастық үшін ең өзекті жəне беделді мультидисциплинарлы контентке адалдығымызды білдіреді. НАН РК сообщает, что научный журнал «Вестник НАН РК» был принят для индексирования в Emerging Sources CitationIndex, обновленной версии Web of Science. Содержание в этом индексировании находится в стадии рассмотрения компанией Clarivate Analytics для дальнейшего принятия журнала в the Science Citation Index Expanded, the Social Sciences Citation Index и the Arts & Humanities Citation Index. Web of Science предлагает качество и глубину контента для исследователей, авторов, издателей и учреждений. Включение Вестника НАН РК в Emerging Sources Citation Index демонстрирует нашу приверженность к наиболее актуальному и влиятельному мультидисциплинарному контенту для нашего сообщества.