In the first six months of 2026, Kazakhstan recorded 2,919 cases of tuberculosis, an 11% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to infohub.kz.
The incidence rate stood at 14.23 cases per 100,000 population. A year earlier, 3,265 cases were detected in the first half of the year.
Among adolescents, the incidence dropped by 20.4%. Positive dynamics were also noted among children under 14. However, nearly a third of tuberculosis cases in children are detected only after they seek medical help on their own.
The number of repeated cases of the disease also decreased by 12.1% over the year.
According to the Ministry of Health, fluorographic examinations covered 95.9% of people from high-risk groups. BCG vaccination covered 88.5% of newborns.
From April to June, specialists conducted monitoring of medical organizations. Inspections covered 99.6% of healthcare facilities. They assessed compliance with infection control requirements, preventive examinations, and early detection of tuberculosis in children.
As a result of the monitoring, 7,144 orders were issued to medical organizations, and more than 60% of them have already been fulfilled.
Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most often, the disease is transmitted from person to person through the air when a person with active tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, or talks. You cannot get tuberculosis from the cold.
For prevention, timely examinations of people who have been in contact with a patient and BCG vaccination of newborns are important—it significantly reduces the risk of severe forms. If you have a prolonged cough or other suspicious symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Earlier, Kursiv reported on a case in a capital city hospital: a nurse infected a child with tuberculosis, according to the child's relatives. In May, tuberculosis was confirmed in a nurse at City Hospital No. 1.