Armenia

The Armenian landscape is composed of a complex mountainous relief (400-4095 m above sea level) with several landscape-ecological zones. Fauna diversity is conditioned by ecological factors, 13 families of rodents, and 12 types of vectors. Because of these complex ecological features, many diseases remain endemic in the country. For example, approximately 95% of Armenia is a natural focus for tularemia. Rodents (voles/Microtus socialis) play the most important role in the epizotoology of tularemia. Voles inhabit all the landscape-ecological zones 1400-3300 m above sea level. In addition, 80 types of parasite ticks and fleas are found in all ecological zones of Armenia.

Objective

We have applied GIS methodologies to create a retrospective analysis of tularemia outbreaks in the Republic of Armenia.

Brucellosis, endemic in Armenia, is recognized as a significant public health challenge with a major economic burden. To address the regional threat of brucellosis for both animal health and public health, the œOne Health Surveillance of Brucellosis in Armenia” was initiated in December 2016. The project aims to develop scientifically sound strategies and policies for sustainable control of the disease.

Objective:

To understand the disease burden, we studied the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and associated costs for brucellosis patients hospitalized in Nork hospital in 2016.

Erysipeloid is a zoonotic bacterial infection transmitted to humans from animals. Symptoms include inflamed joints and skin; there is also a generalized type of the infection in which bacteria spread through the lymphatic and blood vessels, leading to the emergence of widespread skin lesions and the formation of secondary foci of infection in internal organs. Morbidity has no age or gender specifics; there is summer and autumn seasonality. The agent of the infection - Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae can be found in many domestic and wild animals. Wild rodents and ectoparasites play an essential role in spreading the disease and serve as a source of infection contaminating the environment.

Objective:

The goal of this study was to characterize the epidmiological, geographic, and historical characteristics of erysipeloid outbreaks in the Republic of Armenia.

Influenza is a priority in Armenia. There are two influenza surveillance systems in Armenia: population and sentinel. The medical center (MC) has been included in sentinel surveillance since 2012. In 2015 a study was undertaken to identify gaps in severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) sentinel surveillance system in Surb Astvatsamayr MC.

Objective:

The goal of this study was to identify gaps in the severe acute respiratory infection sentinel surveillance system at Surb Astvatsamayr Medical Center.