[Main direction of harmonization of Russian and international requirements on providing of biological safety when handling pathogenic biological agents].

The actuality of harmonization of Russian and international requirements when handling with pathogenic biological agents (PBA) is caused by the need to ensure biological security on the basis of control of biorisks. One of the basic conditions for harmonization is development and implementation of the Russian standard for biorisk management based on international standard CWA 15793:2008.

[Prospects of plague control in its natural foci].

The unique experience of plague control in its natural foci was accumulated in the Soviet Union in the 1930s-1970s. At that period the main measure taken for conditioning these foci was the extermination of rodents, the main carriers of plague, and their fleas as vectors with the aim of breaking, as it was then believed, the continuous process of the transmission of Yersinia pestis among rodents. These measures, carried out in many natural foci for several decades, did not bring desired results; in none of these areas natural foci of plague could not be liquidated, completely or in part.

[Activity of the natural foci of plague in the Northern Caucasus in recent years].

During the last two years the natural foci of plague in the North Caucasus were controlled with relatively low intensity. Nevertheless, every year rodents of different species and their fleas, both infected with Yersinia pestis, were detected in all 5 foci. According to the available data, no intensive, expanding epizootics were registered at the period under consideration.

[Influence of anthropogenic and natural factors on the ecology-epidemiological situation in a number of zoonotic infections in the Northern Caucasus].

The aggravation of the epidemiological situation in the North Caucasian region of Russia was shown to be possible in view of the unfavorable conditions in a number of dangerous zoonotic infections in this region. The positive effect of human activities, aimed mainly at obtaining economic advantages, on the natural environment was noted. Only in a number of cases these activities lead to a decrease in the epidemic potential of infections.