Peculiarities of the Measles Epidemic Process in the Osh Region: Retrospective Analysis and Economic Efficiency of Immunization

A retrospective epidemiological analysis of measles morbidity in the Osh region from 2009–2024 revealed a distinct cyclical pattern in the epidemic process. Major epidemic surges occurred approximately every 10 years, with morbidity rates of 128.5 (in 2015) and 135.3 (in 2024) per 100,000 population. Between these peaks, smaller, sporadic surges were observed every 2–3 years. Morbidity in 2023–2024 showed a wave-like pattern. In 2024, 1,846 cases were registered, a 2.1-fold increase from 2023. The main reasons for this rise were insufficient vaccination coverage, caused by internal migration (12.3%) and medical exemptions (6.2%). The majority of those affected (87.5%) were children under 14. The most vulnerable groups were children under one year old and those aged 1–4. The epidemic hotspots were identified as the Kara-Suu and Aravan districts, where morbidity rates were 1.5 times higher than the regional average. The analysis demonstrated the high effectiveness of vaccination: the morbidity rate among vaccinated individuals was 6.2 times lower than among the unvaccinated. Economic calculations confirmed that investing in immunization is significantly more cost-effective than covering treatment expenses, preventing substantial financial damage. The identified patterns necessitate a review of immunization strategies, an enhancement of epidemiological surveillance, and the development of targeted preventive measures for the most vulnerable groups and regions.