Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yelzhan Birtanov visited the National Center of Expertise
Министр здравоохранения РК Елжан Биртанов посетил Национальный центр экспертизы 06.02.2020

Today, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yelzhan Birtanov, visited the virology laboratory of the branch of the National Center of Expertise in the city of Nur-Sultan. He checked the level of readiness for the enhanced operation of the capital’s laboratory to prevent the importation of especially dangerous diseases, including the coronavirus infection discovered in China.

“We received diagnostic tools for the new coronavirus infection from Russia free of charge. The supply of so-called test systems was carried out as part of Rospotrebnadzor’s implementation of measures to support neighboring states in building their capacity to combat the threat of infectious diseases. These test systems were developed by leading scientists of the State Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”. To date, test systems have been delivered in sufficient quantities to study the new type of RNA 2019 - nCoV. Analyzes are carried out using the polymerase chain reaction method in “real time,” informed the head of the virology laboratory, Ainash Makusheva.

According to her, at the moment, the virology laboratory has examined 180 patients suspected of a new type of coronavirus. The study showed that the majority of patients were diagnosed with influenza and ARVI.

“The laboratory operates 24 hours a day. As we receive material for analysis, we immediately conduct research on all panels of influenza and influenza-like diseases, as well as on a new type of coronavirus,” said A. Makusheva.

Today, according to the recommended WHO protocol, American-made primers have been ordered for the detection of a new type of RNA 2019 - nCoV by PCR.

During the visit, the Minister of Health got acquainted with the work of the PCR unit of the virology laboratory. Epidemiologists demonstrated to Elzhan Birtanov the method of isolating the genetic material of the virus, the rules for preparing reaction mixtures, as well as the operating principle of the Rotor Gene 6000 amplifier.

The Minister also inquired about the principles of epidemiological and routine surveillance of influenza and influenza-like diseases circulating in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The principle of sentinel epidemiological surveillance is based on year-round monitoring of ARVI infections.

In addition, Elzhan Birtanov got acquainted with the work of the molecular genetic research laboratory.

In the laboratory over the past epidemiological season, molecular genetic characteristics of 85 strains of influenza virus were obtained and sensitivity to anti-influenza drugs recommended by WHO was studied. This laboratory was created in August 2019 on the basis of the branch of the National Center of Expertise in Nur-Sultan. Here, studies of identified strains of influenza and other viral infections are conducted at the genetic and molecular level. And also, identification of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria. The laboratory is equipped with the most modern equipment used for genetic analysis of viruses and bacteria.

At the end of the meeting, the minister gave instructions on the need to resume training in higher medical educational institutions of Kazakhstan for narrow specialists in the field of ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population of the republic.

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