WHO very concerned about an explosion of measles cases

Afghanistan is facing a recent explosion in the number of measles cases. The World Health Organization (WHO), “very worried”, said on Friday in Geneva it expected an increase in deaths in the coming weeks.

Measles cases are falling globally, but efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic have disrupted vaccination and prevention campaigns.

JUNIOR KANNAH / AFP

After two years of decline, cases of measles have spread since last July in all regions of the country, a spokesman told reporters. The increase notably reached 18% then 40% for two weeks at the end of January.

For this month of January, more than 35,000 cases have been observed, of which around 10% have been confirmed in the laboratory. More than 150 people have succumbed to the disease. If the number is rather low, “it will probably increase significantly” in the coming weeks, also said the spokesperson.

The WHO is planning a campaign to immunize three million people in three months. This disease is “extremely contagious”, according to the spokesperson. Another problem, the significant malnutrition in the country makes the population even more exposed, said the organization.

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