A.B. Belov1, P.I. Ogarkov1, M.I. Ishkildin1, A.Y. Mindlina2, N.I. Briko2, E.S. Zenkevich2
1 S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Saint Petersurg;
2 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Vitaly
DmitrievichBelyakov is one of the foremost scholars of epidemiology. He has had a significant influence on the development of Russian epidemiological and medical science in general. His theory on internal regulation of parasitic systems has boosted the formation of many scientific fields, including molecular epidemiology and population genetics. Belyakov was one of the first people in Russia to begin to study epidemiology as a science that examines the incidence of disease and other mass phenomena, reflecting the outcomes of the disease, to identify the causes and risk factors of infectious and non-infectious diseases and to use these data to develop measures to prevent disease. He can rightly be considered one of the founders of epidemiological diagnosis. Ahead of his time, he determined the epidemiological-diagnostic (analytical) activities of specialist epidemiologists to be fundamental. Academic Belyakov’s ideas are largely reflected in the structure of modern epidemiology and the basic guidelines of the scientific profession. Currently epidemiology includes the epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Belyakov developed the original concept of epidemiological surveillance, which was a significant achievement in the management of anti-epidemic efforts. He defined the theoretical, methodological and organizational basis of epidemiological surveillance.
Keywords: V.D. Belyakov, epidemiology, epidemic process, epidemiological surveillance, epidemiological diagnosis, history of epidemiology
