WHO has donated computer and other laboratory equipment to the subnational measles and rubella laboratory in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, which will be used to monitor these viruses in the southern regions of the country. Kyrgyzstan is experiencing a measles outbreak that started in 2018. In 2019 alone, 2369 cases of measles were reported in the country.
WHO provides technical support on many aspects of measles control in the country. The donation will contribute to strengthening the capacity of public health laboratories to identify measles and rubella viruses, one of the key areas of the technical support provided.
During an informal ceremony on 17 February 2020, Dr Nazira Artykova, WHO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, handed over the equipment to the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance, to be passed on to the Virology Laboratory in Osh, the second largest city in the country.
The event provided the opportunity to reflect on the collaboration between WHO and the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance, which has resulted in some key achievements and progress in the country. One such achievement is the elimination of endemic transmission of rubella as of the end of 2018. While measles continues to circulate in the country, significant steps have been taken to respond to the outbreak and close immunity gaps in the population.