WHO reports a sharp increase in measles cases in several countries, including Uzbekistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about the sharp increase in measles cases in several countries. According to WHO, over the past year, the largest number of cases of measles was registered in Tajikistan (610), Türkiye (466) and Russia (414). In Austria, Serbia, the UK and Uzbekistan, the incidence has increased since the beginning of 2023.

According to statistics, from January 1 to April 11, 2023, 34 people came to Uzbekistan with suspected measles, of which 26 people tested positive for the virus. For comparison, in 2022, only 8 cases of measles were officially detected in the republic.

“Once an outbreak has been confirmed, WHO recommends a series of activities to quickly respond, including case investigation; identification and vaccination of susceptible contacts and others; infection control in health-care settings; and outreach to affected community or population groups to raise awareness and address public concerns,” said Dr Jose Hagan, Team Lead for Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization at WHO/Europe.

The organization also noted that countries in the region conducted supplementary vaccination campaigns last year, which, in particular, identified children who had missed routine measles vaccinations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.