An unidentified disease has affected more than 550 people in the Shinwari district of Parwan province, leaving two dead, local sources told Amu on Thursday.
The disease’s symptoms include diarrhea, fever, headaches, and body weakness, according to the sources. Samples from patients have been sent to Kabul for identification, but the cause of the illness remains unknown. Some patients are in critical condition, and the number of those affected continues to rise, the sources added.
The outbreak has impacted both children and adults, who have been taken to the Kafshan Valley health center in Shinwari district for treatment. “My head hurts, I have diarrhea, and I also have a fever,” said one teenage patient.
Local health officials from the Taliban-controlled Parwan Department of Public Health confirmed the two fatalities and noted that the unknown disease is causing growing concern among residents.
“Some people think the disease is linked to a well that was recently dug, claiming its water is unsafe. Others suggest a cow died in the water. We don’t know the exact cause—whether it’s the well water or something else,” said Gul Rahman, a resident of Shinwari district.
At least 10 critically ill patients have been transferred to Kabul for urgent treatment, the sources said.
The outbreak comes amid ongoing concerns about Afghanistan’s struggling healthcare system. The United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) have repeatedly warned of widespread malnutrition and disease due to limited access to healthcare and food in the country, with millions at risk.
