Spread of cholera from uncontrolled territories is possible only if you consume contaminated water or direct contact with patients or vibrio carriers, cholera is not transmitted through airborne droplets, assured infectious disease doctor, medical consultant of CSD LAB laboratory Lesya Lozko.
“It has to be contact. If there are sick people there and it is possible to move them from the occupied territories to ours, then there is a risk of spread. Cholera is not transmitted by airborne droplets, that is, there must be either household contact or spread through contaminated water,” she explained to the agency “Interfax-Ukraine”.
At the same time, the expert noted that so far there is no official confirmation of cholera outbreaks in non-controlled territories.
“Reliable information from the uncontrolled territories, unfortunately, we can not receive,” she said.
At the same time Lozko noted that now there is a seasonal increase in acute intestinal diseases, but it is within the standard seasonal fluctuations.
Commenting on the information about the detection of cholera-like vibrios, the expert noted that the outbreak of intestinal diseases can be prevented by observing sanitary and hygienic rules, in particular hand washing, drinking bottled water and thermal treatment of food products.
Lozko reminded that cholera-like vibrios do not cause cholera, but acute intestinal infections, which have symptoms characteristic of these diseases, but not so often lead to catastrophic dehydration of the body, which can provoke lethal outcome.
At the same time, Lozko noted that outbreaks of acute intestinal diseases are possible in closed groups, such as boarding schools and nursing homes, as well as among the military.
At the same time, the expert noted that there is no increase in demand for tests for acute intestinal diseases.
As reported, according to the General Staff of the AFU, in the temporarily occupied by the Russians cities of Skadovsk and Genichesk, Kherson region, the incidence of acute intestinal infections is increasing, the nature of the course of the disease has signs of cholera, but the occupation authorities do not recognize the increase in the number of diseases and are trying to hide the deterioration of the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the region. According to the General Staff, the occupants carry out hidden vaccination against cholera of representatives of the administrations and their close entourage.
In turn, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine records a constant and significant microbial contamination of surface water bodies belonging to the Black Sea, the rivers Dnieper, Ingul, Ingulets, Southern Bug and estuaries. Thus, according to the results of research, exceeding of sanitary-chemical, microbiological and toxicological characteristics was recorded. Among the dangerous – salmonella, eggs and larvae of helminths, Escherichia coli, rotavirus. Cholera-like vibrios are also detected.
Norway has decided to increase military support to Ukraine this year by NOK2.5 billion ($249 million) to NOK10 billion ($950 million) as part of the previously adopted Nansen program on military and civilian support to Ukraine of NOK15 billion annually, the Norwegian government website said Tuesday.
“Ukraine is now in urgent need of additional military support and materials. Norway is therefore increasing its military support to Ukraine by NOK2.5 billion to NOK10 billion in 2023,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at a press conference marking the opening of the NATO summit in Vilnius.
In addition, Norway has also decided to increase its contribution to NATO’s Ukraine support fund to NOK300 million ($29 million) annually.
“Norway is increasing its contribution to the NATO support fund for Ukraine. Norway will contribute NOK300 million in 2023 and contribute a total of NOK1.5 billion over five years. This is a clear signal of long-term support for Ukraine’s reforms, which will further connect Ukraine to the Alliance,” the Norwegian prime minister said.
Stere also spoke about the decision to increase Norway’s investment in its own defense to a minimum of 2% of GDP.
The summit will also decide on the establishment of a NATO center for critical undersea infrastructure. “The war in Ukraine has shown once again that the protection of critical infrastructure is important for security policy. As the largest supplier of gas to Europe, Norway has a special responsibility to protect submarine infrastructure… NATO is now establishing a separate center for the protection of critical submarine infrastructure,” the Norwegian prime minister told the summit.
According to Støre, the Vilnius summit “will be the most important NATO summit of our time.”
“Among other things, we will undertake a historic increase in NATO’s collective defense capabilities with regional defense plans that have been updated for the first time since the Cold War,” he said.
The prime minister said the summit’s decisions will be important for both the entire Alliance and Norway’s security, and there are at least four reasons why the summit is crucial for the Norwegian state. “First, it will strengthen NATO’s ability to fulfill its primary task, namely the defense of member states in crisis and war. Second, the increased defense contribution means a clear strengthening of its own preparedness, security and defense capabilities. Thirdly, the summit will decide on the establishment of a separate center for the protection of undersea infrastructure, which is of fundamental importance to Norway. And fourth, the membership of Finland, and now Sweden, means a stronger Northern Europe in NATO,” Støre emphasized.
Ukraine in the first six months of 2023 reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 4.4 times compared to the same period of 2022 – to $7.699 million ($1.355 million in June), aluminum and aluminum products increased by 25.9% to $168.234 million ($31.461 million).
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products in January-June this year decreased by 0.9% year-on-year to $48.032 million ($8.297 million in June), lead and lead products decreased by 5.7% to $7.806 million ($1.121 million), nickel and nickel products totaled $125,000 ($18,000), compared to $1.266 million in the first half of 2022.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, Ukraine in 2022 reduced imports of nickel and nickel products by 49.9% compared to 2021 – to $59.754 million, aluminum and aluminum products – by 33.4%, to $340.398 million.
Exports of aluminum and aluminum products for 2022 decreased 42.7% from 2021 to $96.972 million, lead and lead products decreased 68.7% to $11.970 million, and nickel and nickel products decreased 73.9% to $1.268 million.
In January-June 2023, Ukrburgaz specialists (a division of Ukrgasvydobuvannya JSC) drilled more than 157 thousand meters, which is a record six-month figure for the last 15 years, the press service of Naftogaz of Ukraine reports.
“Despite the war, we not only continue to drill new wells, produce natural gas and fill underground gas storage facilities, but also work to increase production performance,” said Oleksiy Chernyshov, Head of Naftogaz Group.
The press service also clarified that in April 2023, a record for monthly penetration was set – 32.4 thousand meters.
As reported, in February, the head of UGV Oleg Tolmachev said that in 2023 the company plans to increase drilling by 1.5 times compared to last year – up to 300 thousand meters.
“In 2022, Ukrgasvydobuvannya drilled 47 new wells, compared to 50 in 2021.
“Naftogaz aims to increase its own natural gas production by 1 bcm in 2023 – up to 13.5 bcm. In 2022, UGV produced 12.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas (commercial), which is 3% less than in 2021.
NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine owns 100% of Ukrgasvydobuvannya shares.
Oil prices are rising on Tuesday thanks to China’s announced measures to support the real estate market, whose problems continue to hold back the country’s economic growth.
The People’s Bank of China (Central Bank) will expand its program to support developers, including encouraging banks to extend loans to representatives of the sector to complete housing projects, Market Watch reports.
The attention of traders this week is directed to the data on the dynamics of consumer prices in the U.S. for June, as well as monthly reports of OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The cost of September Brent crude futures on the London-based ICE Futures exchange by 8:20 Moscow time on Tuesday is $78.08 per barrel, up $0.39 (0.50%) from the previous session’s closing price. On Monday, these contracts fell $0.78 (1%) to $77.69 per barrel.
The price of WTI oil futures for August at the electronic trading of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) increased by $0.41 (0.56%) to $73.4 per barrel. The previous day, the value of these contracts fell by $0.87 (1.2%), to $72.99 per barrel.
“New stimulus for the Chinese real estate market is supporting the oil market,” said Warren Patterson, who is in charge of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV. – U.S. inflation data to be released on Wednesday could determine the market’s direction in the short term as it will show what to expect from the Fed in the coming months.”
Ukrainian enterprises in January-June this year increased imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 97.1% compared to the same period last year – up to $56.288 million.
According to customs statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, exports of copper and copper products for the period decreased by 26.3% to $39.433 million.
In June, $8.672m worth of copper was imported and $5.732m worth of copper was exported.
As reported, Ukrainian companies in 2022 reduced imports of copper and copper products in value terms by 64.3% year-on-year to $65.370 million, while their exports decreased by 56.3% to $90.245 million.
