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Main messages

Infectious diseases

Immunisation

Ensure that all patients, especially children, are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule. See Immunisation collection with complete schedules.

Tuberculosis (TB)

The incidence of TB in Belarus is low (<40 cases/100,000) but there is a high burden of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB, so:

• routine screening is not required
• consider testing for TB (including children) if the patient shows signs and symptoms
• seek advice, if you are a local TB service, from the before treating patients from Belarus for TB
• be aware that TB is a notifiable disease

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV

Take a sexual history, and:

• screen for STIs and HIV according to risk as specified in the UK national standards and guidelines
• test all sexually active patients under the age of 25 for chlamydia

Belarus has a low rate of HIV (鈮�1%), so:

• offer and recommend a HIV test if the patient:
  • falls into a high risk group
  • is newly registering in a high prevalence area
• be advised that national guidelines do not recommend routine consideration of HIV testing of infants and children who have recently arrived in the UK

Hepatitis B

Belarus has an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B, so:

• consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly those who have recently arrived
• offer screening for hepatitis B to all pregnant women during each pregnancy
• immunise appropriately any babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive, and follow-up accordingly
• be aware that the UK has a universal infant immunisation programme for hepatitis B聽and a selective immunisation programme for higher risk groups

Hepatitis C

Belarus has a higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK, so if other risk factors apply.

Travel plans and advice

Ask opportunistically about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin, and see , or the Health Protection Scotland websites ( and ), for travel advice.

Typhoid

There is a risk of typhoid infection in Belarus, so:

• ensure that travellers to Belarus are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fever
• remember enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of illness in patients with a recent history of travel to-or-from Belarus

Women鈥檚 health

Reproductive health indicators

Reproductive health indicator	UK	Belarus
Children per woman鹿	2	1

鹿lifetime average

No data are available on:

• contraceptive use
• mammography screening rates
• cervical cancer screening rates

Nutritional and metabolic concerns

Anaemia

There is a moderate risk of anaemia in adults (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women is 20 to 40%) and pre-school children (estimated prevalence is 20 to 40%), so:

• be alert to the possibility of anaemia in recently arrived migrants, particularly women and pre-school children
• test as clinically indicated

Vitamin D

Consider the possibility of vitamin D deficiency in people who may be at risk due to:

• covering their body for cultural or religious reasons (lack of sunlight)
• skin colour
• diet (vegan or vegetarian)

Vitamin A

There is a risk of vitamin A deficiency in Belarus.

Iodine

People from Belarus may be at risk of moderate due to inadequate intake.

Country profile

Health indicators and health care

has a summary of health indicators and health care in Belarus.

Culture, politics and history

and provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Belarus.

Languages

The main languages used in Belarus are:

Language	Population (%)鹿
Belarusian (official)	23.4
Russian (official)	70.2
翱迟丑别谤虏	3.1
Unspecified	3.3

鹿2012 est.虏includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities

Source: .

Religions

Religion	Population (%)鹿
Eastern Orthodox	89.5
翱迟丑别谤虏	9.6

鹿2012 est.虏including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslims

Source: .

Migration to the UK

There were almost 4,000 people from Belarus living in England and Wales at the time of the 2011 Census.

Source: