1. Introduction: Measles virus remains one of the main causes of childhood morbidity and mortality, posing a serious threat to most countries. Since March 2023, measles incidence rates have been growing in Kazakhstan, with the disease registered in previously unvaccinated, incompletely or untimely vaccinated children and adults representing a wide unimmunized stratum of the population. Objective: To conduct epidemiological and molecular genetic monitoring of measles viruses causing the increase in disease incidence in Kazakhstan in 2023. Materials and methods: The analysis of measles incidence in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2023 was based on state statistics. In order to genotype circulating measles strains, we took 69 clinical urine samples and performed Sanger sequencing of the C-terminal region of the N-gene. Results: In 2023, 29,731 measles cases were registered in Kazakhstan, the incidence rate being 149.95 per 100 thousand population. Most of the cases were children aged 1 to 4 years – 43.3 %, followed by children aged 5–14 years – 19.9 % and children aged 0–12 months – 16.1 %, of which 65.9 % were not vaccinated against measles. The results of nucleotide sequencing of 69 samples from measles patients showed two genotypes – D8 and B3. Discussion: Measles cases in 2023 were registered throughout Kazakhstan. Measles virus genotype D8 was represented by the predominant line 8248, identified in Tajikistan in 2021 and circulating in Europe. Genotype B3 was associated with strains first identified in India and Saudi Arabia. These data confirm that measles incidence in Kazakhstan was attributed to viruses imported from other countries. Conclusion: Findings of epidemiological analysis and molecular genetic testing of measles viruses confirm continued circulation of genotypes B3 and D8 and emphasize the importance of continuing monitoring and increasing vaccination rates to control the disease spread.

Despite mass immunization against COVID-19, due to the high rate of spread, as well as the tendency to rapidly change and recombine, the SARS-CoV-2 virus caused several outbreaks (waves) of the disease around the world. Thus, at the end of 2020, WHO announced the emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, which were associated with a new wave of COVID-19 cases. And at the beginning of 2021, sequences of the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom (UK) at the end of 2020 and later called the Alpha variant, were registered in several countries. In this regard, Kazakhstan, like other countries, has been conducting molecular genetic studies of SARS-CoV-2 viruses since 2021. To detect the B.1.1.7 variant in Kazakhstan, we used a preliminary screening of viral single nucleotide polymorphism (VirSNP), in particular the N501Y mutation characteristic of the B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P.1 lineages. Of the 703 positive samples collected from February to May 2021, 321 (45.7%) had the N501Y mutation. The highest number of cases were detected in the populous cities of Almaty and Astana. To identify molecular genetic differences of the Alpha variant in Kazakhstan, we performed whole-genome sequencing using Illumina next-generation sequencing. As a result of sequencing, in addition to the N501Y mutation, we also detected the characteristic B.1.1.7 mutations A570D, P681H and T716I. Additionally, whole-genome sequences from Kazakhstan deposited in GISAID by other researchers were used to determine the genetic diversity of the Alpha variant. Of the 174 SARS-CoV-2 virus sequences obtained, 170 were confirmed to belong to the Alpha variant. Несмотря на массовую иммунизацию от COVID-19, из-за высокой скорости распространения, а также склонности к быстрым изменениям и рекомбинациям, вирус SARS-CoV-2 вызывал несколько вспышек (волн) заболеваемости во всем мире. Так, в конце 2020 года ВОЗ объявила о появлении новых вариантов SARS-CoV-2, с которыми была связана новая волна заболеваемости COVID-19. В начале 2021 года в нескольких странах регистрировались последовательности варианта B.1.1.7, впервые выявленном в Соединенном Королевстве (Великобритания) в конце 2020 года и позже названный вариантом Альфа. В связи с этим Казахстан, как и другие страны, с 2021 году проводит молекулярно-генетические исследования вирусов SARS-CoV-2. Для обнаружения варианта B.1.1.7 в Казахстане использовали предварительный скрининг вирусного однонуклеотидного полиморфизма (VirSNP), в частности мутации N501Y, характерной для линий B.1.1.7, B.1.351 и P.1. Всего из 703 положительных образцов, отобранных с февраля по май 2021 года, 321 (45,7%) имели мутацию N501Y. Наибольшее количество случаев было выявлено для многонаселенных городов Алматы и Астана. Для выявления молекулярно-генетических различий варианта Альфа на территории Казахстана, мы провели полногеномное секвенирование с использованием секвенирования нового поколения Illumina. В результате секвенирования помимо мутации N501Y были также обнаружены характерные B.1.1.7 мутации A570D, P681H и T716I. Дополнительно для определения генетического разнообразия варианта Альфа использовали полногеномные последовательности из Казахстана, депонированные в GISAID другими исследователями. Из 174 полученных последовательностей вируса SARS-CoV-2, для 170 подтверждена принадлежность к варианту Альфа.

Background: Meat adulteration, particularly the undeclared addition of pork, is a critical food fraud and religious compliance concern in Muslim-majority countries like Kazakhstan. This study determined the prevalence of undeclared porcine DNA in processed meat products and evaluated the reliability of Halal certification. Methods: A total of 195 non-pork-labelled samples collected across Kazakhstan in 2024–2025 were screened using species-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR). A Cycle Threshold (Ct) cutoff of 35 was applied to differentiate high target DNA concentrations from trace cross-contamination. Results: Undeclared porcine DNA was detected in 57 samples (29.2%). Of these, 48 (24.6%) yielded Ct values below 35, indicating high target DNA concentrations, while 9 (4.6%) had Ct values of 35 or above, suggesting trace cross-contamination. Notably, the detection rate in Halal-certified products (29.2%) was statistically identical to that of non-certified products (p = 1). Conclusions: These results reveal a substantial prevalence of undeclared porcine DNA in Kazakhstan’s processed meats and demonstrate that current voluntary Halal labelling provides no assurance against pork contamination. This underscores the urgent need for routine molecular surveillance and strict hygiene control protocols.