Kyrgyzstan's Measles Outbreak Shows Signs of Decline

Health Minister Erkin Checheibaev commented on the measles situation in Kyrgyzstan.

"Now, compared to 2024, the incidence of measles has decreased. This gives reason to believe that the outbreak that began in 2023 has begun to decline," he said, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kabar.

However, the minister noted that such surges in measles occur due to the high number of people refusing vaccination.

"Measles outbreaks are of an amplitude nature. In Soviet times, when vaccination was mandatory, outbreaks were isolated. Now, due to illiteracy and "woe from wit", when people have read all sorts of information on the Internet, many do not vaccinate their children. Such parents do not understand that they are endangering their child and all the children around them," Checheibaev noted. He added that according to WHO norms and standards, coverage should be up to 98% of the contingent.

"Right now, in some regions, for example, Bishkek and Osh, there is a very large percentage of unvaccinated children," the minister said.

Checheibaev believes that mobilization of state bodies and local authorities is needed to ensure that vaccination of children is on schedule and everywhere.