Extra beds and vaccination: measles spreads in Aktobe region

Tengrinews.kz – A sharp increase in measles cases is being recorded in Aktobe region. Over the past four weeks, more than one hundred people have contracted the infection, most of them young children. Doctors describe the situation as alarming and directly link the outbreak to low vaccination coverage.
According to doctors, the majority of patients are children under the age of three. Most of them were not vaccinated: some were exempted from vaccination for medical reasons, while in other cases parents refused the shots, physicians say. There are also infants who have not yet reached the age for routine vaccination.

“In the region there are currently 5,132 children aged 6 to 10 months. Of these, more than 4,000 are subject to additional vaccination. As of today, 2,069 children have been vaccinated,” commented Botagoz Myrzaly, chief specialist of the Aktobe region Healthcare Department.

At the moment, 24 children with measles and one adult patient are undergoing treatment at the regional clinical infectious diseases hospital. Two children are in serious condition in intensive care with pneumonia as a complication. In response to the rise in cases, additional beds have been set up in the facility.

“An extra 30 beds have been opened for measles patients; in total, 58 beds are now available. Doctors strongly urge parents not to ignore vaccination — it remains the most effective protection against measles and its severe complications,” Botagoz Myrzaly noted.

The Aktobe region Healthcare Department does not rule out that the number of cases may increase in the coming weeks: measles has a long incubation period. For this reason, preventive measures have been strengthened in the region, and additional vaccination of children aged 6 to 11 months has begun without waiting for the routine vaccination age.
Doctors are calling on parents, at the first symptoms — high fever, rash, cough and red eyes — to seek medical help immediately and not to self-medicate.

Measles is one of the most contagious viral infections. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and can spread even after brief contact. According to doctors, among unvaccinated people the likelihood of infection after contact with a patient is close to 100 percent.
The highest risk is borne by young children, unvaccinated adults, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, measles can lead to miscarriage, premature birth and severe complications.

It should be noted that today the Ministry of Healthcare stated that all necessary preventive and anti-epidemic measures are being implemented, but full stabilization of the situation has not yet been achieved. The main reason for the spread of the infection remains refusal of vaccination.
According to official data, 79 percent of those who fell ill were not vaccinated, another 8.4 percent received an incomplete immunization course, and in 10 percent of cases the immune status is unknown. About 59 percent of unvaccinated children did not receive their shots due to parental decisions.
Since the beginning of 2026, 1,951 measles cases have been registered in the country. The highest numbers have been recorded in Astana — 581 cases, Zhambyl region — 339, Almaty — 317 and Almaty region — 146 cases.