Parasite Thrived After Soviet Union Collapse
- 10 years ago
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the year 1991, many socioeconomic and political changes occurred, which experts say have led to the rise of a parasitic tapeworm called Echinococcus. The parasite is transmitted to humans who consume the eggs in water, or on vegetables contaminated with feces from dogs or other canine species, which act as hosts for the tapeworm.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 gave rise to many socioeconomic and political changes. Health services including veterinary care declined as many of the central Asian republics gained their independence which experts say has led to the rise of a parasitic tapeworm called Echinococcus.
The parasite is transmitted to humans who consume the eggs in water or on vegetables contaminated with feces from dogs or other canine species, which act as hosts for the tapeworm.
When veterinary care is upheld and dogs are treated for worms, the spread of the parasite is significantly lower, but after the veterinary health programs in the former Soviet Union republics were neglected, and the dog population increased, more and more people started becoming infected.
According to data from a study by a team of researchers, between the years 1995 to 2011, the number of people who reported being infected by the parasite in the country of Kyrgyzstan increased from around 3 cases a year to more than 60.
Experts also think that cases documented by the government are significantly underreported.
The same study also notes that more than 65 percent of foxes in Kyrgyzstan are host to the tapeworm.
Cases of humans being infected with the tapeworm are often fatal, due to its infestation of the lungs, liver and other organs.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 gave rise to many socioeconomic and political changes. Health services including veterinary care declined as many of the central Asian republics gained their independence which experts say has led to the rise of a parasitic tapeworm called Echinococcus.
The parasite is transmitted to humans who consume the eggs in water or on vegetables contaminated with feces from dogs or other canine species, which act as hosts for the tapeworm.
When veterinary care is upheld and dogs are treated for worms, the spread of the parasite is significantly lower, but after the veterinary health programs in the former Soviet Union republics were neglected, and the dog population increased, more and more people started becoming infected.
According to data from a study by a team of researchers, between the years 1995 to 2011, the number of people who reported being infected by the parasite in the country of Kyrgyzstan increased from around 3 cases a year to more than 60.
Experts also think that cases documented by the government are significantly underreported.
The same study also notes that more than 65 percent of foxes in Kyrgyzstan are host to the tapeworm.
Cases of humans being infected with the tapeworm are often fatal, due to its infestation of the lungs, liver and other organs.