Kabul – A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that 21 individuals, including 19 children under the age of five, have died from measles in a single week (May 11-17, 2025). This alarming statistic comes as the nation continues to battle multiple infectious disease outbreaks, according to the WHO’s latest situation report for Epidemiological Week 20.
The WHO’s findings underscore a persistent and escalating health crisis. Since the beginning of 2025 (December 29, 2024, to May 17, 2025), a total of 55,678 suspected measles cases have been recorded, leading to 357 associated deaths.
The weekly number of suspected cases surged by 6.2 percent, reaching 4,043, the report says. Children under five remain disproportionately affected, representing 73 percent of weekly cases and 78.7 percent of cumulative cases. Provinces with the highest incidence of suspected measles include Helmand, Nuristan, Badakhshan, Jawzjan, and Uruzgan.
Beyond measles, the WHO report highlights other significant health challenges.
The report shows that cases of acute watery diarrhea with dehydration are also increasing, with 3,853 new cases reported in Week 20. This marks a 10.8 percent increase from the previous week, though no deaths were reported during this specific period.
Since January 2025, Afghanistan has recorded 42,304 AWD cases, resulting in 12 deaths. The highest cumulative incidence has been observed in Nimroz, Khost, Paktia, Farah, and Kabul provinces, the report says.
Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) pneumonia continues to be a major health concern. In Week 20, 23,885 cases and 47 associated deaths were reported. While this indicates a slight decrease from the preceding week, the cumulative figures since January 2025 are substantial, with 694,819 cases and 1,517 deaths.
Children under five account for 63.6 percent of cumulative ARI-pneumonia cases, the report says.
Accordign to the report, week 20 saw 46 new suspected Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) cases and 6 deaths, an increase from the previous week.
Since January, there have been 259 suspected cases and 16 deaths. The WHO notes a gradual increase in CCHF cases since Week 15, warranting close monitoring, particularly as the Eid al-Adha holiday approaches.
Moreover, 1,267 confirmed malaria cases were reported in Week 20, with no associated deaths. Cumulative confirmed cases since January 2025 stand at 7,962.
COVID-19: 50 new confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified in Week 20, representing a 56.3 percent increase from the previous week, the report says. No new deaths were reported for COVID-19 in Week 20. The cumulative confirmed cases since January 2025 are 1,314, with 4 associated deaths.
The report says that 41 suspected cases of dengue fever were reported in Week 20, primarily from Nangarhar province, with no associated deaths. Cumulative suspected cases since January 2025 are 345.
