WHO revokes Uzbekistan’s measles-free status amid rising cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revoked Uzbekistan’s measles-free status after a sustained rise in infections in recent years, citing gaps in routine immunization as the main driver of the resurgence.

Uzbekistan was officially certified as having eliminated measles and rubella in 2017, based on epidemiological data from 2014–2016. However, subsequent increases in measles transmission led the WHO to reassess the country’s status. According to Euronews, similar decisions were taken for five other countries — Azerbaijan, Austria, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Armenia — following outbreaks recorded in 2024.

WHO experts said measles epidemics were confirmed in these countries last year. Under international criteria, a country loses its measles-free status if the virus re-emerges and continuous transmission persists for more than 12 months.

Health specialists attribute the renewed spread primarily to shortcomings in mass vaccination, which have resulted in reduced immunity, particularly among children. In countries removed from the measles-free list, the highest number of cases has been reported among children under the age of 10.

The virus is now spreading widely across Europe and Central Asia. Romania has seen a sharp deterioration in the epidemiological situation, while Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, France, Germany, and Poland have also reported concerning figures. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are among the countries affected by rising measles cases.

Given that the majority of infections have occurred among unvaccinated individuals, the WHO has reiterated its recommendation that at least 95 percent of the population receive two doses of the measles vaccine to prevent outbreaks and interrupt transmission.

To regain measles-free status, Uzbekistan must ensure the absence of virus circulation for at least three consecutive years and significantly strengthen epidemiological surveillance, the WHO said.

Official data illustrate the scale of the setback. In 2022, Uzbekistan recorded just eight measles cases nationwide. In 2023, that figure surged to 1,026. The disease has been particularly prevalent among children under one year old, most of whom had not received a single dose of the vaccine.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, and rash. It can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and encephalitis. Health authorities stress that vaccination remains the only effective means of protection against the disease.