MODERN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURESOF THE SIBERIAN TICK TYPHUS IN THE ALTAI REPUBLIC
We have done an analysisof Siberian tick typhus (STT) in the Altai Republic in 2004–2016. The average yearly STT incidence rate of the Altai Republic was 73,8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. That is 50 times higher than the rate of Russia. The study shows that STT cases are registered between April and October with 2 peaks, in April-May (13.3 % of cases) and in July-August (70.9 % of cases). In the spring people are infected with STT from a bite of adult Dermacentornuttalli and in the summer from a bite of nymphal D. nuttalli. It has been established thatthe R. sibirica prevalence of nymphal D. nuttalliwas significantly higher than of adult D. nuttalli. The incidence of STT is connected with the high number of a livestock. Domesticanimals are active hosts for ticks, and also carry vectors into settlements. People are infected in the early childhood owing to close contact with ticks (including contacts with nymphal stage of D. nuttalli). The main prevention measures are regular spraying with acaricides of livestock, settlement deratization and personal tick-bite prevention.