At least 82 new cases of chickenpox have been detected in the northeastern Panjshir province in recent weeks.
The Taliban’s Public Health Department in the province said that the cases included 70 children and 12 adults who were diagnosed with the chickenpox virus.
The outbreak has not led to any deaths in the province so far, the Department added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). This viral infection creates a skin rash that begins with tiny, painful blisters and progresses to pimples.
Chickenpox is common, and the majority of patients recover in two to four weeks. It is, however, an infectious disease, and persons who have not previously been immunized or exposed to the virus are vulnerable to infection.
While mostly a mild disorder in childhood before the age of 10, the virus tends to be more severe in adults.
