KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – At least 357 people have died from measles in Afghanistan so far this year, most of them children under the age of five, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) said in a report released Friday.
The report recorded more than 74,800 suspected measles cases across the country since January, with the highest numbers reported in Helmand, Nuristan, Badakhshan, Jawzjan, and Uruzgan provinces.
In response, UNICEF said it vaccinated over 852,000 children against measles during the first half of 2025, including over 29,000 children who recently returned to the country.
“Throughout 2025, with both humanitarian and basic human needs at dire levels, our unwavering shared commitment to the people of Afghanistan will be crucial to alleviate acute suffering and to reduce preventable deaths,” the agency said.
This year’s figures show a sharp rise in cases and deaths compared to 2024, when the World Health Organization (WHO) reported over 52,500 suspected cases and 237 deaths between January and November.
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, but it is preventable through vaccination. Despite ongoing immunization efforts, Afghanistan continues to struggle with rising infections and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations.
Health services in Afghanistan have deteriorated rapidly since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The collapse of the public health system, combined with a halt in U.S. aid, has led to widespread shortages of medicine, equipment, and medical staff.
Over 420 health facilities have shut down, and the UN warns nearly nine million people could lose access to care due to continued funding cuts.
