Measles cases surge in N Kazakhstan

200 suspected measles cases have been registered in North Kazakhstan region, 107 of them are laboratory-confirmed. Last week, the number of infected people was at 75, Kazinform News Agency reports.

According to the chief of the regional department for sanitary-epidemiological control Arman Kushbassov, 94 out of 107 cases fall on Petropavlovsk, while 47 of them are the cadets of the National Guard Academy.

Single cases were detected in Aiyrtau, Kyzylzhar, Mamlyut, Akkaiyn, Zhambyl and Magzhan Zhumabayev districts.

Most of the cases were registered among the children aged 15 and older – 67 cases, and children under 14 – 40 cases. 11 patients are school students, four are students and 20 children attending neither kindergartens nor schools. 93% of those infected were not vaccinated, Arman Kushbassov said.

5,380 children or 20% of those subject to vaccination were additionally immunized against measles.

The region received more than 6,900 doses of the measles vaccine.