Over 4,000 People Hospitalized in Uzbekistan Due to Heatwave – Health Ministry

Tashkent – More than 4,000 Uzbekistan residents were hospitalized due to the abnormal heatwave this week, the Uzbek Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

“From July 17 [Sunday], when the abnormal heatwave began in our country, to date, July 20 [Wednesday], the republic’s ambulance service received a total of 130,115 calls,” head of emergency service said as quoted by the health ministry on its Telegram channel.

Over 23,400 people contacted the ambulance with complaints of high blood pressure, shortness of breath, asthma attacks and other chronic diseases, with “4,215 of them hospitalized,” according to the emergency service head.

In Uzbekistan, the hottest period of the year is from June 25 to August 5. The people call it “chilla” (meaning 40 days in Persian)​​​. During the day, the air in Tashkent warms up to 40-43 degrees Celsius (104-109 degrees Fahrenheit), in the south of the country – up to 45 degrees Celsius.

The country’s hydrometeorological service previously said that on July 17-22, abnormal heat is expected in Uzbekistan with temperatures peaking at 47 degrees Celsius.

The ministry recommends that people do not leave the house without special need and drink more water, as well as eat more fruits and vegetables instead of fatty and smoked foods.