AZE.US
Azerbaijan recorded a sharp increase in measles and chickenpox infections during the first five months of 2026, according to the State Statistical Committee.
Chickenpox cases rose from 17,000 during the same period last year to 31,000 this year. The number of confirmed measles cases increased from just 10 to 127.
Pediatricians said both infections are more common during winter and spring, but outbreaks can also occur in summer, particularly when children fall behind on routine vaccinations.
Measles is most frequently reported among children under the age of five. Chickenpox is more common among children between one and nine years old, especially those aged two to eight.
Health specialists are again urging parents to follow the national vaccination schedule. In Azerbaijan, children are scheduled to receive measles vaccinations at ages one and six.
Children who have not been vaccinated or have received only part of the required doses should be taken to a medical facility to complete their vaccinations, specialists said.
Unvaccinated children, as well as those with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems, face a higher risk of infection and severe complications. Possible complications of measles include ear infections and enteritis.
Parents are advised to seek medical care as soon as symptoms appear and to treat routine childhood vaccination as a public health priority.
AZE.US