MONITORING (SW) – Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported a significant increase in measles cases among children in three Afghan provinces.
In a statement, the organization noted that, compared to the same period last year, the number of children infected with measles in Balkh, Herat, and Helmand has tripled since the beginning of this year (2025).
MSF further stated that at least one child in each of these provinces dies daily from measles.
“In three hospitals in Afghanistan, we have observed 4,799 children suspected of having measles in the first eight weeks of 2025. This includes 25% of complicated measles cases that required hospitalization, and 75% of less severe cases that required outpatient treatment,” MSF stated.
The organization emphasized that launching a swift and targeted measles vaccination campaign in Afghanistan could help reduce the spread of the disease.
Measles is a viral infection, and vaccination remains the best preventive measure against it.
