Travellers Entering Kazakhstan Now Face Extra Health Checks at Border Points

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Healthcare has rolled out sanitary and quarantine controls at state border crossing points after a suspected case of a particularly dangerous infectious disease was reported in Russia's Irkutsk region. The ministry is monitoring the epidemiological situation closely and says no arriving passengers have so far been found with high fever, illness symptoms or suspected particularly dangerous infectious diseases.

Key facts

• Where: sanitary and quarantine controls at Kazakhstan's state border crossing points
• Why: a reported suspected case of a particularly dangerous infectious disease in Russia's Irkutsk region
• Risk level: the risk of the infection being imported into Kazakhstan is assessed as low
• Cases found so far: none among passengers arriving in Kazakhstan
• Contacts under observation in Russia: 197 people, none with symptoms and all laboratory tests negative

What has changed at the border?

Preventive measures have been introduced in Kazakhstan, including sanitary and quarantine controls at state border crossing points. According to the ministry, no passengers arriving in the country have been identified with high fever, symptoms of illness or suspected particularly dangerous infectious diseases.

Based on preliminary assessments, the risk of the infection being imported into Kazakhstan remains low. The ministry said the assessment and the preventive measures will be updated as official information becomes available.

What is the situation in Russia?

Russian specialists are conducting an epidemiological investigation. The final diagnosis has not yet been confirmed, and authorities are working to determine the source and circumstances of the suspected infection.

A total of 197 people who had contact with the suspected case are under medical observation. None has developed symptoms, and laboratory tests have been negative. Anti-epidemic measures are also being carried out at Shelekhov District Hospital.

On 4 October, Russia's Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor) said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the Irkutsk region, including Irkutsk and Shelekhov, remained stable, and confirmed that no cases of plague had been detected. The death of a 28-year-old woman in the region was attributed to pneumonia of undetermined etiology.

What should travellers do?

The ministry urged people who develop symptoms after travelling to seek medical attention promptly and to tell healthcare workers where they travelled and when. Citizens were also advised to rely on official sources for information.

Travellers crossing Kazakhstan's borders should expect sanitary and quarantine checks at state border crossing points while the measures remain in place.

The ministry has not given an end date for the border measures. It said the assessment and preventive steps will be updated as official information becomes available.