Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health has announced the rollout of a nationwide measles vaccination campaign to combat the spread of the highly contagious disease.

The campaign, set to begin this month, comes in response to alarming reports from across the country. According to ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, nearly 4,000 suspected measles cases have been registered since the beginning of 2025, although the number of confirmed infections remains lower.

“From the beginning of 2025 until now, nearly 4,000 measles cases have been registered with us; however, these cases are suspected, and confirmed cases are fewer,” Amarkhil stated in a televised interview. He noted that around 3,000 health centers nationwide are currently offering measles vaccinations as part of the government’s containment strategy.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also raised concerns. In its latest report for the 20th week of 2025, the WHO confirmed at least 21 measles-related deaths in Afghanistan, highlighting the seriousness of the outbreak.

Healthcare workers on the front lines are witnessing the toll firsthand. At Kabul’s Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital, doctors report a steady influx of new measles patients.

“Every day, 8 to 12 new patients come in,” said Dr. Mohammad Arif Hassanzai. “Some recover and are discharged, but new cases continue to arrive. This trend has persisted for several months.”

Measles, a viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets, remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths worldwide. In areas with low vaccination coverage, outbreaks can quickly escalate.

The Afghan Health Ministry is now urging parents across all provinces to ensure their children are immunized, emphasizing that the vaccination services are free of charge and readily available. Officials warn that low immunization rates in certain regions are likely contributing to the virus’s spread.

The nationwide campaign aims not only to contain the current outbreak but also to boost long-term immunity levels in the population. Public health experts stress that timely intervention is critical to preventing further fatalities and avoiding overwhelming the country’s already strained healthcare system.

The campaign marks a significant effort by Afghanistan’s health authorities to address growing public health concerns, particularly in vulnerable rural areas where access to immunization services has historically been limited. (ILKHA)