Aizhan Esmagambetova, the Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Kazakhstan, revealed that two infants under one-year-old succumbed to measles in the country, TASS reports.
Providing details to journalists, Esmagambetova conveyed that the tragic fatalities occurred in Astana and the East Kazakhstan region, affecting children who had not yet reached the age for vaccination. The vulnerability of this age group was emphasized, noting that one of the infants was born prematurely and faced multiple health challenges before contracting measles.
Addressing the surge in measles cases, Esmagambetova explained the cyclical nature of infectious diseases, indicating that measles tends to exhibit a recurring pattern over 5-7 years. The last notable outbreak was documented in 2019, prompting extensive vaccination efforts across the population. Currently, 65% of those afflicted by measles are children under the age of five, leading health authorities to initiate additional mass vaccinations for this specific demographic.
"As of December 27, 15 children in various regions of Kazakhstan are in critical condition," added the chief sanitary doctor, underscoring the urgency of addressing the rising cases and the severity of the situation.
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