Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent recorded 354 cases of meningococcal infection in January–September 2026, compared with 10 cases in the same period last year, with 24 deaths reported, according to a report by the Tashkent City Council of People's Deputies.
The incidence rate rose from 0.3 to 11.1. Children under 14 accounted for 341 cases, or 96.3% of the total, with the highest number recorded among children aged one to two. Those who died included 21 children and three adults.
Medical teams examined 13,205 people who had been in contact with infected patients and identified 42 carriers, who were hospitalised. Vaccinations were administered to 5,653 contacts and 2,372 healthcare workers. A total of 4,990 vaccine doses were purchased.
The report describes meningococcal infection as a disease with cyclical waves. Long-term data indicate that increases occur every four to eight years. Tashkent recorded 55 cases in 1989, 56 in 1997, 102 in 2001, 34 in 2006, 114 in 2019 and 26 in 2024. In intervening years, the number of cases fell to between zero and 10.
The figures were presented by Botirbek Isabekov, head of Tashkent's Main Health Department, in a report covering the third quarter of 2026. On 13 November, the city council took note of the report and rated the department's performance during the quarter as satisfactory, while acknowledging both its results and shortcomings.
Other infectious diseases also increased during the first nine months. Mumps cases rose threefold, from 73 to 217, while scarlet fever cases increased 2.5 times, from 664 to 1,637.
Salmonellosis cases rose by 40.5%, from 247 to 347, while acute intestinal infections increased by 11.1%, from 12,249 to 13,608.
By contrast, several infections declined. Bacterial dysentery cases fell 3.6 times, from 157 to 44, while influenza cases dropped 2.8 times, from 2,648 to 952. Brucellosis was diagnosed in two people, compared with seven a year earlier.
Chronic hepatitis cases decreased by 44%, from 587 to 328, while viral hepatitis cases fell by 39%, from 579 to 352. Hepatitis A accounted for 331 cases, compared with 534 in the same period of 2025.
Measles cases declined by 37.5%, from 285 to 178, while infectious mononucleosis cases fell from 81 to 56.
Respiratory tuberculosis cases decreased from 435 to 350, chickenpox from 1,343 to 1,229, and acute respiratory infections from 292,385 to 269,333, a decline of 7.9%.
No cases of hepatitis E were registered. The report also recorded no cases of cholera, plague, rabies, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, typhoid, paratyphoid, diphtheria, polio, tetanus or hepatitis D.
Screening and preventive healthcare
A total of 3,231,643 people underwent examinations under seven screening programmes during the nine-month period. Average coverage reached 90.5%, and diseases were detected at an early stage in 29,763 people.
Diabetes screening covered 754,728 residents over the age of 40, out of 824,041 eligible people, representing 91.6%. Diabetes was diagnosed for the first time in 2,548 people, or 0.34% of those screened.
Screening for cardiovascular diseases covered 672,263 people over the age of 30 out of 693,624, or 97%. The conditions were detected for the first time in 22,290 people, representing 3.3%.
A total of 122,011 women aged 30–55 underwent cervical cancer screening, out of 133,726 eligible women, representing 91.2%. Cancer was detected in 78 women, or 0.1%. Of these, 52 cases were identified at an early stage, and 70 women were treated, accounting for 89.8% of those diagnosed.
Mammography was performed on 134,588 women aged 45–65 out of 143,308, or 93.9%. Breast cancer was detected in 266 women, or 0.2%. Of these cases, 235 were identified at an early stage, and the women were treated, representing 88.6%.
Screening for oncohaematological diseases covered 309,474 children aged three to 18 out of 353,032, or 87.6%. A further 1,172 children, or 0.4%, underwent selective examinations. The disease was detected in seven children.
Helminth infections were screened for in 344,337 children aged two to 10 out of 360,596, representing 95.4%. The condition was detected and treated in 3,974 children, or 1.2%.
Tuberculosis screening covered 63,747 people in high-risk groups out of 76,416, or 83.4%. The disease was diagnosed for the first time in 600 people, or 0.9%.
Medical examinations were completed by 637,885 of Tashkent's 774,103 women of reproductive age, representing 82.4%. Extrгенital diseases were identified in 178,435 women, or 28%. Of these, 89,453 had relative contraindications to pregnancy, while 3,115 had absolute contraindications.
A total of 156,776 women received treatment, representing 87.9%. Of these, 149,234 were treated as outpatients and 7,542 in hospitals.
Maternal and child health
Tashkent recorded 41,993 live births in the first nine months, down by 5,710 from 47,703 a year earlier.
The number of women using contraception increased by 27.6%, from 48,088 to 61,373. Intrauterine devices were chosen by 40,737 women. Another 17,856 and 2,780 women used methods identified in the report by the abbreviations IK and IJK, respectively.
A total of 42,126 pregnant women out of 47,952, or 87.8%, underwent screening for foetal abnormalities. Such abnormalities were detected in 361 cases, or 0.9%, and 233 pregnancies were terminated. According to the report, this prevented the birth of 233 children with abnormalities leading to death, representing 64.5% of the relevant cases.
Seven pregnancies were registered among girls aged 15–16, unchanged from the previous year.
A total of 2,054 women gave birth less than two years after their previous delivery, 133 more than a year earlier, when the figure was 1,921.
There were 3,149 fourth and fifth deliveries, 22 fewer than the 3,171 recorded a year earlier. The number of births to women aged 35 and older increased to 2,898 from 2,758, a rise of 140.
Maternal mortality stood at five cases, or 11.9 per 100,000 live births. The deaths were recorded in Uchtepa, Almazar, Yakkasaray and Shaykhantakhur districts.
A year earlier, six maternal deaths were registered, at a rate of 12.6 per 100,000 live births. The rate therefore fell by 0.7 points. Disciplinary measures were taken against 48 healthcare workers.
In-depth medical examinations covered 783,008 of the city's 951,256 children aged up to 18, or 82.3%. Of those examined, 72.7% were placed in health group D-I, 24.2% in D-II and 3.1% in D-III.
Diseases were detected in 213,899 children, or 27.3%, and 210,944, or 98.6%, received treatment. Of those treated, 195,326 received outpatient care, 14,368 were hospitalised and 1,250 received treatment at sanatoriums.
At 335 general education schools, medical examinations covered 277,073 pupils out of the 324,323 included in the approved 2026 plan, or 85.4%. Of those examined, 75.2% were assigned to group D-I, 23.9% to D-II and 1% to D-III.
Diseases were found in 68,688 pupils, or 24.8%. A total of 54,212 pupils, or 78.9% of those diagnosed, received treatment.
Infant mortality totalled 189 cases, at a rate of 4.4, compared with 194 cases and a rate of 4.1 a year earlier. The number of deaths fell by five.
Chronic diseases and other health indicators
A total of 1,124,266 people in Tashkent were registered for ongoing medical monitoring, equivalent to 35,742.7 per 100,000 residents. This included 974,733 adults aged 18 and over, at a rate of 44,837.4, and 149,533 children under 17, at a rate of 15,391.7.
Among adults, circulatory system diseases were the most common, with 325,085 cases, or 14,953.8 per 100,000 people. Endocrine diseases, nutritional disorders and metabolic conditions ranked second, with 224,058 cases, or 10,306.6 per 100,000.
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs, along with certain immune disorders, ranked third, with 124,397 cases, or 5,722.2 per 100,000. Digestive system diseases accounted for 107,521 cases, or 4,945.9 per 100,000, while respiratory diseases accounted for 106,236, or 4,886.8.
Among children, endocrine diseases, nutritional disorders and metabolic conditions were the most common, with 37,894 cases, or 3,900.5 per 100,000. Blood diseases and immune disorders accounted for 37,724 cases, or 3,883 per 100,000, while respiratory diseases accounted for 27,945, or 2,876.4.
Conditions originating in the perinatal period accounted for 16,203 cases, or 1,667.8 per 100,000 children. Nervous system diseases accounted for 15,598 cases, or 1,605.5.
Tuberculosis was diagnosed for the first time in 600 people, at a rate of 19.3 per 100,000. The cases included 115 children and 22 adolescents. A year earlier, 642 cases had been registered, at a rate of 20.6.
Fluorographic examinations covered 347,623 people against a target of 494,131, representing 70.4% of the plan. The corresponding coverage in 2025 was 67.5%.
A total of 2,301 patients with active tuberculosis were registered for medical monitoring, at a rate of 73.9. A further 819 people were removed from dispensary monitoring, including 717 following recovery.
The number of people newly registered with mental health conditions reached 2,665, or 81.9 per 100,000 residents. This included 1,203 adults, 143 adolescents and 1,321 children. A year earlier, the figure was 2,396, or 73.6 per 100,000.
The total number of registered patients with mental health conditions stood at 23,377, or 718.8 per 100,000. A total of 6,188 received hospital treatment. Overall morbidity was reported at 18,711 people, or 575.3 per 100,000.
A total of 7,460 people were registered with narcology services, including 608 women. As of 1 October 2025, the figure had been 6,867.
Alcohol dependence was diagnosed in 3,885 people, drug addiction in 3,215 and substance abuse in 360.
The rate of newly diagnosed drug addiction increased from 17.5 to 21.1 per 100,000 residents, while the rate for substance abuse rose from 1.4 to 2.1. The rate for alcoholism declined from 8.2 to 5.1.
A total of 728 patients received inpatient treatment and 109 were treated as outpatients. During the period, 987 people were registered for monitoring and 594 were removed from the register.
HIV and disability
Tashkent had 10,382 residents living with HIV, including 5,916 men and 4,465 women. The total comprised 10,245 adults and 137 children under 18.
During the first nine months, 307 new cases were identified, at a rate of 9.4 per 100,000, compared with 324 cases and a rate of 10.3 a year earlier.
Rates above the city average were recorded in Bektemir district, at 17; Mirabad, at 15.4; Uchtepa, at 14.8; and Yangihayot, at 11.1. The rates were also above the city average in Sergeli, at 9.8, and in Yashnabad and Yunusabad, at 9.7 each.
Sexual transmission accounted for 233 of the newly identified cases, or 75.9%. Thirteen people, or 4.2%, were infected through medical parenteral procedures.
Four cases, or 1.3%, involved non-medical parenteral transmission, while six people, or 2%, were infected through intravenous drug use.
The city had 69,720 residents with disabilities, including 9,382 children and 60,338 adults.
Among adults, 5,816 people, or 9.6%, had Group I disability; 46,025, or 76.3%, had Group II; and 8,497, or 14.1%, had Group III.
Medical and social expert commissions granted disability status for the first time to 2,434 patients and renewed it for 4,910.
Full rehabilitation was achieved by 26 people, or 0.5%, compared with 38 in 2025. Partial rehabilitation was recorded for 769 people, or 19.6%, compared with 528 a year earlier.
Disability became more severe for 205 people, or 4.4%, down from 306 cases in the previous year.
Prevention campaigns and the Health Marathon
Preventive programmes on reproductive health and early marriage reached 14,195 people. Of these, 7,945 young people took part in activities at 316 educational institutions, while 6,250 residents were reached in 140 mahallas.
Under the Kelajak Soati programme, 668 events on healthy lifestyles were held at 316 schools, involving 27,613 pupils. A further 1,512 events on preventing harmful habits were organised in mahallas and schools, attracting 30,240 participants.
A total of 12,850 mass and individual events on preventing non-communicable diseases reached 245,800 residents. The 5,000 Steps project organised 23 walks and distributed 179,142 information materials.
Breastfeeding was promoted through 1,035 events, with 10,585 women receiving guidance. The Healthy Family rooms provided sessions for 852 pregnant women and distributed 5,110 brochures.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases and strokes included 712 thematic weeks, 38 public events and 111 training sessions. The activities covered 27 major enterprises. A further 62 sessions were held under the FAST Heroes programme.
The Health Marathon took place in 10 Tashkent districts from 1 November 2025 to 31 July 2026.
During the campaign, 1,765,551 people visited family polyclinics, where 1,624,869 examinations were conducted. City multidisciplinary central polyclinics recorded 458,771 appointments.
A total of 79,684 patients with chronic diseases were examined, and 3,546 were treated in hospitals, including 607 children. Doctors performed 486 operations, of which 246 were high-tech procedures.
The campaign screened 57,029 people over 40 for cardiovascular diseases and 56,879 for diabetes. Breast cancer screening covered 22,970 people, cervical cancer screening 13,309 and tuberculosis screening 6,706.
Medical facilities conducted 54,302 ultrasound examinations, 38,728 electrocardiograms, 20,589 X-rays, 9,511 mammograms and 1,441 multislice CT scans.
Cardiovascular diseases were diagnosed for the first time in 1,289 people, diabetes in 289 and tuberculosis in 13.
Breast cancer was detected in 35 people, including 10 cases at an early stage. Cervical cancer was found in 18 people, including five early-stage cases.
Public complaints and council instructions
The Health Department and its subordinate institutions received 4,446 public appeals during the nine-month period, compared with 4,999 a year earlier, a decline of 553 or 11%.
However, the number of appeals increased by 23% in Mirabad district and by more than 12% in Yangihayot and Yakkasaray districts.
Requests for practical assistance accounted for 75% of appeals, complaints for 22% and expressions of gratitude for 2.5%.
Department heads held 180 off-site meetings and received appeals from 415 residents. A total of 374 appeals, or 90.1%, were resolved, while the remaining 41 residents received legal explanations.
Following its review, the city council instructed the Health Department and the Tashkent office of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, represented in the report by M. Kudratkhodjaeva, to conduct an in-depth analysis of the rise in meningococcal infection, scarlet fever and mumps.
The agencies were told to introduce additional measures against meningococcal infection, with particular emphasis on reducing illness and deaths among children under 14.
They were also instructed to monitor procedures for examining and isolating sick children in kindergartens, schools and other children's groups. Epidemiological investigations must be conducted at infection sites, contacts placed under medical supervision and public information campaigns strengthened.
Vaccination against meningococcal infection is to be organised according to epidemiological indications and applicable sanitary rules. The agencies must also strengthen prevention among children and high-risk groups and review every death caused by an infectious disease.
The Health Department was instructed to expand coverage of preventive examinations and screening programmes and meet all planned targets. Patients diagnosed with diseases must undergo timely further examinations and targeted treatment, with their follow-up monitoring tracked electronically.
Primary healthcare facilities are expected to improve early detection of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other chronic conditions, while reducing complications. The council also called for better preventive services and more effective medical care.
Together with district administrations and healthcare facility heads, the department must strengthen measures to prevent maternal deaths. Pregnant women must be identified and registered for monitoring in good time, while those at high risk must receive separate supervision.
The instructions also call for wider medical examination coverage among women of reproductive age, timely treatment of identified extragenital diseases and quality screening during pregnancy.
To prevent pregnancies among girls aged 15–16, preventive work must be organised jointly with educational institutions, mahallas and families.
Specific measures to reduce maternal and infant mortality must be established for every district and medical institution.
In cooperation with the city's Department of Education and Science, represented in the report by M. Rakhimov, and district administrations, healthcare officials must expand in-depth medical examinations of children and school pupils. Children diagnosed with diseases must receive complete treatment as outpatients, in hospitals or at sanatoriums.
Because the recovery rate among schoolchildren was low, the council instructed officials to compile individual lists of examined children who had not received treatment. Prevention efforts must also address nutrition, physical activity, eyesight and musculoskeletal health, while improving the work of school medical staff.
The department was instructed to expand fluorographic screening and fulfil its targets, strengthen monitoring of high-risk groups and ensure completion of tuberculosis treatment. In view of the increase in newly registered mental health cases, the quality of psychiatric care must also be improved.
Prevention of drug addiction and substance abuse must be expanded in educational institutions, mahallas and workplaces.
For HIV prevention, the council called for stronger early detection and outreach to high-risk groups. Districts with above-average rates must introduce separate targeted programmes.
The Health Department, sanitary and epidemiological services, district administrations and mahalla citizens' assemblies were instructed to promote healthy eating, physical activity, hygiene and avoidance of harmful habits on a systematic basis.
The Health Marathon is to continue, while the 5,000 Steps project and mass sporting events are to be expanded across mahallas. Public information campaigns on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and excess weight must also be strengthened.
Regarding people with disabilities, the department was instructed to work more closely with relevant organisations on medical rehabilitation, assistive devices and healthcare services. It must improve full and partial rehabilitation rates and analyse cases in which disability has become more severe.
The council also called for reducing delays in medical and social assessments and ensuring that decisions are issued on time.
The Health Department, district administrations and heads of medical institutions must systematically analyse complaints concerning the quality of care, doctors' conduct, examinations and treatment. Districts where complaints have increased must identify and address the causes.
They were also instructed to protect patients' rights, ensure transparency in healthcare services and hold regular off-site meetings with residents.
The department must take measures to improve staffing, make more effective use of medical equipment, raise the quality of laboratory and diagnostic services and reduce administrative delays for patients.
It will report analytical information on implementation of the council's decision every quarter.
