Measles Crisis Persists in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Struggles with Measles Outbreak
The Republic Center for Immunoprophylaxis in Kyrgyzstan has reported that the country is facing a tense situation with regards to the spread of measles. As of February 6, at least 2,436 cases of the disease have been registered, with the main cause being a large number of refusals of scheduled immunization against measles and rubella among children and adults.
To coordinate the response to the measles outbreak, the Ministry of Health has been holding field and operational meetings since the beginning of 2024. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the current epidemiological situation and to take measures to localize the outbreak and avoid lethal cases.
As part of the response, health care organizations will be stepping up routine immunization in the territories of Chui and Osh regions, in Bishkek, and Osh. Additionally, vaccination of contact persons and strengthening measures to increase preventive immunization coverage, with a focus on parents who refuse vaccination, will also be implemented.
In 2023, there were 7,046 confirmed cases of measles and 9 fatal cases. Among the fatal cases, 8 were children between 1 year and 18 years old, and 1 was under 12 months old. The goal of the preventive and anti-epidemiological measures is to reduce the incidence of measles and avoid further fatalities.
The Kyrgyz health authorities urge parents to ensure that their children receive the necessary vaccinations in order to protect against measles and other preventable diseases. The vaccination efforts are crucial in controlling the spread of the disease and preventing future outbreaks.
