Uncovered in Moscow: Potential Health Hazard in a Potato Field, with Possible Exposure to Tuberculosis and Herpes

In recent times, a growing concern about the health risks associated with hookah bars has surfaced in Russia. Reports of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and herpes, being transmitted between customers due to infrequent equipment cleaning have been raised.

This issue was highlighted in a popular Moscow establishment, where both tuberculosis and herpes were reportedly contracted while smoking hookah. The situation became even more alarming in Yekaterinburg, where a child developed bronchitis, thought to be linked to regular exposure to harmful fumes from hookah bars.

Inspections conducted in the affected house in Yekaterinburg revealed excessive levels of carbon monoxide, further emphasizing the potential health hazards associated with these establishments.

Sergey Leonov, Chairman of the State Duma's Health Protection Committee, and Gennady Onishchenko, an epidemiologist and Russian Academy of Sciences academician, have both emphasized the need for legislative regulation in the hookah bar industry. Their proposals focus on stricter requirements for hookah handling to minimize infection risk and prevent the buildup of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Onishchenko has also proposed supplementing the existing anti-smoking law with by-laws that could potentially lead to a full ban on tobacco products. He has noted that smoking's harmful effects are particularly severe on children's health.

One concerning fact is that one hookah produces a volume of smoke equivalent to five large balls with a diameter of 91 centimeters each. This underscores the potential for widespread exposure to harmful substances in these establishments.

Moreover, without proper sterilization, there is a high probability of human infection in hookah bars. In Moscow and several Russian cities, hookah bars have been found to violate sanitary requirements, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement and regulation.

The current market for hookah bars is considered a "gray zone", with sanitary standards often determined by the owners. This lack of regulation has led to concerns about the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, which is extremely resistant in the external environment and can survive on various surfaces for a long time.

In Yekaterinburg, a resident was diagnosed with an allergy allegedly caused by hookah smoke entering her apartment through the ventilation system. This incident underscores the need for proper ventilation systems and regular cleaning in these establishments.

Onishchenko has called for intensifying the fight against tobacco smoking in Russia, emphasizing the need for the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) to take a more active role in regulating health standards, including those for shisha bars, despite no official specific regulations for shisha bars yet.

As the health risks associated with hookah bars become more apparent, it is crucial that stricter regulations are implemented to protect the public and ensure a safer environment for all.

Uncovered in Moscow: Potential Health Hazard in a Potato Field, with Possible Exposure to Tuberculosis and Herpes