Two Infants Succumb to Measles in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is grappling with the heartbreaking news of two infant deaths attributed to measles, as revealed by Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic, Aizhan Esmagambetova.

The unfortunate fatalities occurred in Astana and the East Kazakhstan region, affecting children under one year old who had not yet reached the age for vaccination, Esmagambetova disclosed during a Senate session. Tragically, an additional 15 children find themselves in critical condition due to the infectious disease.

The National Center for Public Health of Kazakhstan reports a staggering 26,815 officially registered cases of measles infection since the beginning of the year. Alarming statistics have prompted international attention, with UNICEF previously designating Kazakhstan as the country with the highest incidence of measles globally.

The Ministry of Health, as of early December, underscores the severity of the situation, noting a surge in measles cases to over 88.9 per 100 thousand people, surpassing the October figure of 69 cases per 100 thousand people. This year marks the most significant measles outbreak in Kazakhstan in the last decade, surpassing the challenging “pre-pandemic” year of 2019.

Examining regional disparities, the southern areas of Shymkent (258.9 cases per 100 thousand population) and Zhambyl region (194.8) have recorded the highest incidence rates. In contrast, North Kazakhstan (9.8 per 100 thousand population) and East Kazakhstan (12.8) regions have reported relatively lower figures.