Plague in Kazakhstan
Desert foci with great gerbils make more than 1 million km2 across 12 regions of Kazakhstan a plague risk zone. No human cases have been reported since 2003.
Updated:
Situation now
On 5 October 2026 the Health Ministry said the situation is under continuous monitoring, border sanitary-quarantine control is in place and the risk of importation from Russia is low.
Authority: WHO Europe
Natural foci
Kazakhstan desert foci
ModerateHosts: Great gerbils
Pre-Balkhash, Aral and Mangyshlak deserts. Among the largest plague foci on earth by area.
Recent events
Health Ministry: no febrile travellers detected at the border; import risk low.
Latest signals
Headlines attributed to Kazakhstan in the last 45 days. Not verified by us.
No plague signals for Kazakhstan in the last 45 days.