The number of cases of measles is growing in Kyrgyzstan. The Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis informed 24.kg news agency.
According to it, since the beginning of the year, more than 3,000 cases have been registered, most of them are children under 10 (88 percent of all cases).
The highest rates are in Bishkek, Osh cities, Chui and Osh regions. The situation in Jalal-Abad region has been deteriorating since September.
Since the beginning of the year, three deaths have been reported. The children at the age of 12 months, three and 13 years old died.
The center noted that they were not vaccinated. According to the center, more than 85 percent of those infected are not vaccinated.
Due to the increase in incidence in the republic, additional immunization against measles and rubella continues. It began on September 18 in areas where the virus circulation is most active — in Bishkek and Osh cities, Osh and Chui regions. More than 460,000 children (74 percent of the target group) have been vaccinated.
Vaccination is carried out regardless of vaccination status or previous illness of measles and rubella among children aged nine months to seven years old inclusive.
Measles is a dangerous and highly contagious viral disease for which there is no cure, and complications of the disease can be fatal. The source of infection is only a person with measles. Persons who have not been sick and have not been vaccinated against measles become infected upon contact with a sick person in almost 100 percent of cases, regardless of age.
