KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The World Health Organization reported a sharp increase in several infectious diseases in Afghanistan in July, including acute watery diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, dengue, measles and COVID-19, as the country continues to face a worsening health and humanitarian crisis.
In its monthly health emergency update for July 2026, released on Thursday, the WHO said Afghanistan recorded 23,985 cases of acute watery diarrhoea with dehydration and 14 associated deaths, a 31.6% increase from 18,232 cases in June.
Acute respiratory infection pneumonia cases totaled 78,082 with 198 associated deaths, an 18.9% increase from 65,673 cases and 168 deaths the previous month.
According to the report, suspected dengue fever cases reached 473, up 85.5% from 255 in June, with no associated deaths reported since January 2026.
Suspected measles cases rose to 2,562 with nine associated deaths, a 6.1% increase from 2,414 cases and 11 deaths in June. COVID-19 cases climbed to 156 from 87, a 79.3% rise. Of 1,488 samples tested in public laboratories, 10.5% were positive. No COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the country since January 2026, WHO said.
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever cases declined, with 302 suspected cases and nine deaths recorded in July, down 37.5% from 483 cases and 21 deaths in June, according to the UN health agency.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system has faced significant challenges since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Needs have escalated amid reduced international assistance, economic difficulties and the return of millions of Afghans from neighbouring countries.
Hundreds of health facilities have closed or scaled back operations in recent years, largely due to funding shortages and restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women’s participation in healthcare and humanitarian work.
The WHO and other humanitarian organizations continue to call for greater international support to sustain basic medical services and strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response capacity.
