Uzbekistan’s state sanitary and epidemiological service is demonstrating a special vigilance to prevent possible outbreaks of these diseases in the country because the situation with anthrax and rabies has worsened in some neighbouring countries today, Uzbekistan’s chief doctor and deputy health minister, Bakhtiyor Niyozmatov, told journalists.

"Today, all surgery and traumatology departments of hospitals, traumatology centres and special rooms in health centres have been fully provided with a vaccine against rabies. It should be noted that this is a free, modern and very effective vaccine, five doses of which are enough for a course of treatment while over 40 doses were needed for a course of treatment before. Tremendous work is being conducted jointly with vets and citizens’ self-governing bodies. Every pet should be registered and vaccinated against rabies. People should abide by the rules of walking and keeping pets. Of course, contacts with unknown animals should be avoided and, especially, children should be kept away from them. The media - newspaper articles, radio and TV programmes - are informing the population about all these measures. Moreover, conversations and meetings are being held at neighbourhoods, and relevant posters are being printed," the country’s chief doctor said.

Veterinary control was tightened in the country’s border areas.