The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that at least 160 deaths from measles have been recorded in Afghanistan in 2024.
The U.N. health agency’s report indicated that the epidemiological curve of suspected measles cases has shown an increasing trend since the beginning of the year, peaking around Week 22, with fluctuations observed in the last two weeks.
The report highlighted that the 2024 trend is higher compared to the past three years. A total of 36,618 suspected measles cases have been recorded this year, with 29,326 cases (80.1 percent) involving children under five and 16,582 (45.3 percent) being female.
“During Week 27 of 2024, a total of 1,597 suspected cases and 13 associated deaths were reported,” the WHO noted. “This represents a 5.3 percent decrease in suspected measles cases compared to the preceding week.”
The report detailed the geographic distribution of the deaths: five were recorded in Kandahar, three in Helmand, two in Baghlan, and one each in Faryab, Khost, and Nimroz. All reported deaths were among children under five, with seven of them being female.
Khost province reported the highest cumulative incidence of suspected measles cases.
Amid mounting Taliban pressure on women’s employment and education, humanitarian organizations have raised alarms about the severe challenges facing Afghanistan’s health sector. According to the U.N., nearly 24 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance, including health services.
