KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has reported a sharp rise in measles cases and related deaths across Afghanistan, with at least one child dying every day.
In a report released on Wednesday, MSF said the number of measles-related deaths has nearly tripled compared to the same period last year.
“These deaths are preventable. Measles can be deadly, especially for children with underlying health conditions such as malnutrition or congenital heart defects,” said Mickael Le Paih, MSF’s Country Representative. He added that the disease is vaccine-preventable, but immunization coverage remains low in Afghanistan.
Since the beginning of 2025, 4,799 children have been suspected of having measles in just three hospitals. MSF noted that 25% of these cases were severe, requiring hospitalization, while the rest were treated as outpatients.
In Herat Regional Hospital alone, 664 patients were admitted—a staggering 180% increase compared to 2024. In response, MSF launched an emergency intervention, expanding the measles isolation ward from 11 to 60 beds and recruiting additional staff. Balkh and Helmand provincial hospitals have also recorded sharp increases, admitting 1,499 and 1,866 suspected measles patients, respectively.
“We are dedicating additional resources, but we are already running out of space for patients suffering not just from measles, but seasonal illnesses as well,” said Le Paih.
MSF has called for immediate action to scale up vaccination campaigns and expand access to measles treatment kits.
The outbreak comes as Afghanistan’s healthcare system faces severe shortages of medicine, equipment, and healthcare workers. Taliban-imposed restrictions, particularly on female health workers, and a critical funding shortfall have further strained the sector.
The situation has worsened following the suspension of U.S. aid, which has disrupted healthcare services across the country. The UN has warned that nearly nine million people could lose access to medical care due to the funding cuts.
During her briefing to the UN Security Council on Monday, Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said more than 200 health centers closed across the country in February alone, leaving millions—especially women and children—without critical medical care.
