"We control the entire flow of migrants"

This season, Russians should expect new flu genovariants from the Southern Hemisphere, as the population does not yet have reliable protection against them. This was stated by the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, in an interview with Izvestia on the sidelines of the WEF. She also explained why an increase in the detection rate of meningococcal infection does not mean a deterioration in the epidemic, spoke about the results of the bathing season and announced new sanitary requirements for the delivery of ready meals.

"In 20 years, we have reduced the incidence of influenza by 20 times"

— Anna Yurievna, on September 2, on the sidelines of the WEF, you launched the traditional flu vaccination campaign. Are all regions ready for it and what do you expect?

— We are waiting for the traditional results, controlled flu incidence in the epidemic season. This is very important, and it is a great achievement, because Russia is a unique country that vaccinates more than half of its residents every year using budget funds. This is a great result.

— Are we talking about both adults and children?

— Yes, these are both adults and children. In some years, more than 60% of the total population was vaccinated, compared to 55% last year. But half of the entire Russian population is vaccinated annually with domestic vaccines at the expense of the federal budget. In 20 years, we have reduced the incidence of influenza by 20 times. This is a very significant figure. Despite the fact that we are now detecting cases much better than two decades ago. We have tests, and we make a diagnosis based on laboratory confirmation, which is available to absolutely everyone of us under the compulsory medical insurance policy.

— Are these rapid tests?

— Both rapid tests and PCR tests - we recommend doing different ones in different cases. If this is a screening examination, an IHA test (immunochromatographic analysis, Ed.) can be used. If you need to figure out what exactly the patient is sick of, it is better to do this using PCR, because its sensitivity is three orders of magnitude higher than the sensitivity of IHA. And where the XA test can give a negative result, PCR will definitely see the presence of a very small number of viruses. It is important.

Our colleagues in the regions are aware of this, and they are just finalizing preparations to be fully prepared for the flu season. And prepare not only for the vaccination campaign, but also for the provision of medical care, for the differentiation of flows and for strengthening, if necessary. Reserve teams are being created, but for many years now we have not felt such a need, because we are vaccinating well.

— Which flu strains will be common this fall and winter?

— The strain composition of the vaccine has been completely changed this year. The vaccine has all three key variants — H1N1 flu, the most severe pandemic of 2009, H3N2 flu, which is usually more widespread, and influenza B, which usually arrives at the end of the season and causes pneumonia.

— What is the reason for this?

— With the results of observations. The inclusion of antigen lists in the vaccine is based on global monitoring. At the end of the season, the strain composition for the Northern Hemisphere is formed in the Southern Hemisphere and then vice versa. The results of the season showed that the high incidence of influenza in South America and Central America was caused by a new H3N2 influenza gene variant. And in Asia, there is a new genovariant of H1N1 influenza and another genovariant of influenza B. Therefore, this year the strain composition of the vaccine is as follows.

"We control the entire flow of migrants"

— In the first three months of 2026, there was a 2.7-fold decrease in the incidence of meningitis in Russia compared to the same period last year. And the incidence among children has decreased by 31.5% since the beginning of this year. What is the reason? After all, there was high growth last year.

— Meningitis can be different. Obviously, you're talking about meningococcal. The increase in the incidence of this infection was indeed noted last year and was, in general, expected. We knew how to protect the Russian population and protected it. The situation with migrant workers is different: other meningococcal gene variants are circulating in the countries from which they come. Therefore, in Russia they encounter a pathogen that they have not encountered before — there is no immune memory, and unfortunately people start to get sick. Last year, this period was short-lived: the situation was quickly localized and all necessary measures were taken.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the better diagnostic tools we have, the more we identify people who are carriers of the infection or have a non-manifest form of the disease. Therefore, when we present our figures, we always say that we need to evaluate them very carefully and accurately.

— So, not all the people included in the statistics had meningitis? Could they be carriers?

— They are either carriers, or they have some kind of latent form. But all these people get into accounting. That's right, that's how it should be, because they're all being sanitized.: they go to medical institutions, where they receive the necessary treatment, after which they cease to be carriers. This is how statistics are generated. Therefore, there is no reason to panic last year, much less this year.

— Did the arrival of migrant workers from India and other Asian countries have any effect on the epidemic situation?

— It didn't affect us in any way, and I hope it won't, because the Soviet and now the Russian School of epidemiology teaches us to look forward a few steps. And make every effort to ensure that the risks do not materialize. That's our task. And, of course, it was quite clear that if the geography of migrants was changing, then measures should be taken. We've done everything, written guidelines. We control the entire flow of migrants.

— And what measures are being taken? Are new labor migrants being vaccinated?

— If necessary, employers vaccinate them. Everyone who comes from countries with a high epidemic risk for various infections has been under observation for several days. And at the slightest deterioration in their well-being, they are subject to an obligatory examination.

— Are they quarantined at the entrance?

"I can't call it a quarantine. This is a medical observation. While they are being processed, while they are taking the Russian language exam, they are under medical supervision during this entire period and certain restrictions apply to them.

Summer results

— Summer is over, but the second peak of tick activity is expected in early September. Compared to last year, is the situation worse, better, or stable?

— The situation is getting better every year. The main assessment criterion is the number of people with tick—borne infections. There are fewer and fewer such cases. Why? Much attention is paid to the so-called acaricide treatment. Everyone is fighting ticks. By the way, mowing the grass is necessary not only for our aesthetic pleasure, but also so that ticks do not live there. These measures are certainly producing results.

Licensing of disinfection activities also has an effect: those who deceived customers and treated territories poorly from ticks have left the market. Registration of state disinfection products also brings results. Marking of the disinfectants, in turn, makes it possible to improve the quality and efficiency of processing.

But what is also very important is the awareness of citizens and our sanitary and educational work. The number of people who apply for tick suction is increasing. This does not mean that ticks have begun to attack people more.

— Has the alertness become higher?

- of course. Alertness is higher, and people today already know how to collect a tick, how to bring it to the laboratory. The large number of appeals indicates that several years of close work with the public have yielded results. The main thing is that there are fewer cases.

— Is it safe to remove the tick yourself?

— Yes, you can remove it yourself. I'm not going to go into details right now — there are all the instructions and manuals. It's important to keep it alive, and not necessarily alive. The main thing is to have it.

— In September, it is already possible to summarize the results of the bathing season. Were there any special features this year?

— Our long—term practice is monitoring water and coastal sand or pebbles for safety indicators. The density of this monitoring was increased last year in connection with the events in Anapa. And it gave its result. This year, we conducted almost 100,000 samples, examined the coastal waters on all our coasts, and took 14,000 samples of sand and pebbles. Everything was satisfactory, we did not close the beaches, the water was of high quality. Therefore, there were no risks. Well, the incidence of intestinal infections was also lower than before. We also learned how to solve this problem with the help of preventive visits, which we were allowed to conduct.

— Can I tell you a little more about Anapa? How do you assess the situation?

— During the entire season, we have not received a single complaint about the quality of beaches and water. We also did not see any deviations in the research results. Everything that was done was not in vain: the measures were taken in full, and the beaches of Anapa were working at full capacity. At the same time, there were no health risks for vacationers.

"We will convert the delivery recommendations into sanitary rules"

— Rospotrebnadzor regularly checks dietary supplements on marketplaces. What should you pay attention to in order to protect yourself? After all, they keep buying them anyway.

— Yes, and worse, they are still being sold. This is the subject of our endless struggle. Taking care of your health and being careful is very important. And that's what you need to look at. Biologically active additives are a group of products that are subject to state registration. And if the label or the bottle itself does not indicate that there is a state registration, the number of such and such a number, then this drug cannot be freely available. He has no right. Each package must contain information about state registration. This is an essential component of the drug itself and its packaging. If you have any doubts, there is a registry of state registration certificates, it is open, and you can always check if the seller is cheating on you.

In addition, in the Russian Federation, all biologically active additives are labeled with the Honest Sign brand. This is another easy and quick way to verify the legitimacy of the drug you are going to buy. And if the QR code does not match the database of the "Honest sign", then in no case should you buy dietary supplements. Well, in general, health should be treated with great care and remember: everything you buy can be checked today.

This is a unique and very important opportunity for Russian consumers. Colleagues from different countries are actively interested in this system. They say, "We want it too, give it to us." Currently, 33 product groups are marked. I urge everyone to use the verification!

— Does Rospotrebnadzor continue to work with the ready-to-eat industry? Will there be any separate requirements regulating this sector soon?

- of course. Last year, we blindly examined ready—made food from the shelves - we just picked it up and ordered it. And it turned out that 64% of everything that we brought to the laboratory did not meet the requirement. This is a high level of risk. Therefore, it is necessary to restore order in the industry. Although the production of ready-made food has not yet been formalized as an industry. And this is also one of our tasks.

Now the big conscientious participants in this market have joined an association that cooperates very closely with us.— They understand that it makes sense to bring only a safe product to the market, and even better— a useful one. But this is the next stage of our work.

— What changes are expected in the near future?

— We will transform the methodological recommendations for delivery into sanitary rules. We hope that they will be approved as mandatory requirements by the end of the year.

— What kind of requirements will they be?

— To work clothes, to the state of health of employees, to the conditions of food delivery. If you are going to undertake such a business, you must ensure that the consumer has the right to receive high-quality and safe goods. It is important.

— And how do you plan to carry out the control?

— This is our know-how, we know how to do it. Today's megalopolis system allows you to control anything.