KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least 310 people died from infectious diseases in Afghanistan in May, with most deaths caused by measles and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) pneumonia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO’s update for May recorded 195 deaths from ARI pneumonia and 93 from measles. It also recorded 16 deaths from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and six from Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD).
The agency also reported a sharp rise in several infectious diseases. Suspected AWD cases rose by 18% to 15,759, while suspected CCHF cases increased by 83.5% to 200. Malaria cases surged by 72.2%, reaching 5,136, and confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped by 242.7% to 586.
Dengue fever cases also rose by nearly 65%. However, the number of suspected measles cases dropped by 21.6%, and ARI pneumonia cases fell by 27.5% compared to April.
Infectious diseases have been on the rise in Afghanistan in recent years, primarily due to a weakened healthcare system, reduced international aid, restrictive Taliban policies, and the influx of returnees from neighboring countries.
Hundreds of clinics and health centers have shut down in Afghanistan due to a major funding shortfall. According to the WHO report, at least 442 health facilities had closed by May, largely because of the suspension of US aid. The closures have affected access to healthcare for more than 3 million people.
The agency has urged the international community to increase support to help prevent a deeper public health crisis in the country.
