A measles epidemic has struck tens of thousands of people and killed more than 150, almost exclusively children, for a year in Afghanistan, alerted Friday, the WHO, judging that the death toll would increase. This highly contagious viral disease, which takes its name from the characteristic red patches all over the body, mainly strikes children, many of whom are already weakened by malnutrition.
“Measles cases have increased in all provinces since the end of July 2021,” World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a UN briefing. The number of cases jumped 18% in the week of January 24 and 40% in the last week of the month. A total of 35,319 suspected cases – 91% of them children under the age of 5 – which were registered last month. Some 156 people – 97% of them children under the age of 5 – have died from the disease.
Insufficient vaccination
For the spokesperson, these figures are below reality and should still swell. “The rapid increase in cases in January suggests that the number of deaths from measles will increase sharply in the coming weeks,” said Christian Lindmeier.
This epidemic is spreading in a country plunged into a deep economic and financial crisis, since the arrival of the Taliban, in Kabul, in August, and the freezing of funds abroad. The United Nations has repeatedly warned that more than half of the country is at risk of starvation.
The main complications caused by the virus are encephalitis, diarrhea, blindness or even severe respiratory infections. The best protection once morest measles is very high vaccination coverage – the WHO recommends 95% – but this is an out of reach goal in the current Afghan context. In December, a vaccination campaign immunized 1.5 million children in the most affected areas. The WHO is preparing a new vaccination campaign for the month of May, which should make it possible to reach three million children.
(The essential / AFP)
