ITAR-TASS correspondent Nikolay Styazhkin: Twenty-two people have been taken to hospital in Stavropol Territory with suspected Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever. Since the beginning of May, the numbers of those affected by this particularly dangerous infectious disease, which is hard to treat, are more than three times up on the April figures, the Stavropol Territory government's Health Ministry said.

According to the ministry, cases of haemorrhagic fever were recorded in three of the Territory's Districts in April, whereas it was found in a further nine Districts in May.

While each of the patients was being treated, it was confirmed that the main source of the spread of Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever was ticks. They have become many times more active in Stavropol Territory owing to favorable weather conditions.

An operational headquarters has been set up in the Territory to coordinate the activities of public health and epidemic monitoring authority bodies and medical institutions.