[An epidemiological investigation of a tularemia outbreak in Smolensk Province].

The investigation of the epidemic outbreak of tularemia morbidity among the population of Vyaz'ma, was carried out. In this investigation the disease was shown to be transmitted by the water route due to contamination of water in the local water mains as the result of serious violations of the rules of using water supply systems. In the process of the investigation of this outbreak a natural focus of tularemia, not registered heretofore, was discovered. The work emphasizes the inadmissibility of deviations from the generally accepted tactics of tularemia control, consisting of a complex of prophylactic measures, such as the vaccination of the population, deratization and disinfection, the examination of the foci of infection, state sanitary surveillance, especially with regard to the sources of water supply and the quality of water preparation, raising the level of professional skills of the personnel and sanitary education.