KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that 357 people have died from measles in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2025.
In a report on Sunday, the WHO said that 21 deaths were recorded in just one week (May 11–17) across nine provinces. The fatalities included six in Helmand, five in Kabul, four in Herat, and one each in Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Bamyan, Jawzjan, and Samangan.
The organization reported a total of 55,678 suspected measles cases since January. Of these, 26,125 were women and 43,840 were children under the age of five.
During the week of May 11–17 alone, 4,043 suspected cases were recorded, marking a 6.2% rise compared to the previous week. The outbreak peaked in mid-April with 4,172 suspected cases reported in a single week.
WHO noted that this year’s measles caseload has consistently surpassed the three-year average from 2022 to 2024. The highest infection rates per 10,000 population have been reported in the provinces of Helmand, Nuristan, Badakhshan, Jawzjan, and Uruzgan.
The outbreak comes amid a broader health crisis. Acute respiratory infections have affected 694,819 people so far this year, with 1,517 deaths. Additionally, 16 people have died from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and 12 from acute watery diarrhea.
The public health emergency is compounded by the collapse of healthcare services following the suspension of U.S. financial aid. Since then, 420 health facilities have closed, cutting off access to medical care for over three million people.
Measles, one of the most contagious diseases, can be fatal, but is preventable through vaccination.
