At least 13,475 cases of measles have been registered in Kyrgyzstan since the beginning of the year. The press center of the Ministry of Health reported with reference to the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis.
The majority of the infected are children under four years old (9,067), the least are adults (1,314 people).
The largest number of cases was registered in Bishkek — 5,012 people, in Chui region — 3,326, in Osh region — 1,804, in Jalal-Abad region — 1,406, in Osh city — 837, in Batken region — 510, in Issyk-Kul region — 249, in Talas region — 154 and in Naryn region — 177.
Three fatal cases of measles have been registered in the country since the beginning of the year.
The department recalled that a clean-up campaign for the prevention of measles and rubella was launched in the Kyrgyz Republic on October 21, 2024. The event is aimed at children from nine months to seven years old, who have not been vaccinated previously or have been vaccinated once. Unvaccinated healthcare workers, students and teachers of secondary and higher educational institutions are also subject to vaccination.
As of November 6, at least 60,295 children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella within the framework of clean-up immunization.
«A two-stage immunization campaign has been implemented in the republic since last year in response to the measles outbreak. During it, 818,939 children from nine months to seven years old were vaccinated, which is 84.6 percent of the target group,» the ministry said.
The purpose of the clean-up immunization is to provide protection against measles and rubella among the population groups that for one reason or another are not fully vaccinated. This will help to form collective immunity, prevent disease outbreaks and minimize the risk of their spread, especially among children. In this regard, clean-up immunization against measles and rubella will continue until coverage of all unvaccinated children is achieved.
Measles is a dangerous and highly contagious viral disease, and its complications can lead to death. Only vaccination can protect against the disease.
