DUSHANBE, July 25, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first six months of this year, 338 cases of typhoid have been registered in Tajikistan, which is 2.2 times more than in the same period of last year, Minister of Health Nusratullo Salimov announced at a press conference in Dushanbe on July 24.

According to him, the main reason for outbreak of the disease in the provinces is low quality of drinking water.  The most serious typhoid situation has been reported in Roudaki and Isfara districts, the minister said.

On the outbreak of typhoid in the village of Ganjobod in the Roudaki district, Salimov said that it had been caused by unsafe drinking water. 

We will recall that the outbreak of typhoid hit the settlement of Ganjobod in March this year.  Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on March 26 that the outbreak of the disease has struck Ganjobod, killing one teenager and sickening some 100 people.  Local health chief Shohmuhammad Sadulloyev told RFE/RL''s Tajik Service that the main source of infection is thought to be contaminated spring water.  Local official Habibjon Azizov said the settlement has had problems for several years, since the administration of the settlement was transferred to the Ministry of Energy and Industries.

Speaking to reporters, the minister also noted on Friday that the typhoid situation has improved in Khatlon’s Kulob zone, where typhoid outbreaks had been reported over the past three-four years.  “With support of donors, a consignment of medicine “Biafak” has been delivered to Kulob and residents have been vaccinated,” Salimov said.