Afghanistan: Measles Outbreak - Jan 2025

The suspected measles figures indicate a concerning upward trend, with 8776 new cases reported in the latest month, reflecting a 20.1% increase compared to January. This rise suggests a growing outbreak during the winter season. Monthly deaths totaled 69, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.8%, while cumulative deaths reached 111, maintaining a CFR of 0.7%. The elevated CFR underscores the severity of measles, particularly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. The increase in cases may point to gaps in vaccination coverage or an outbreak within a susceptible population. Based on the MICS survey 2023, only 36.8% of children aged 24-35 months have been fully vaccinated against measles. (WHO, 18 Mar 2025)

During week 14-2025, a total of 3,200 suspected cases and 15 associated deaths (CFR=0.5%) were reported which shows a 23.6% increase in the number of suspected cases compared to the preceding week. [...] Out of 15 new deaths, 13 (86.7%) were under-five children, while 5 (33.3%) were females reported from 5 provinces: Herat (8), Badakhshan (4), Farah (1), Helmand (1), and Jawzjan (1). Since the beginning of 2025, 31,818 cases of suspected measles and 208 associated deaths (CFR=0.7%) were reported. Out of total cases, 14,571 (45.8%) were females, while 25,836 (81.2%) were under-five children. Since the beginning of 2025, the highest cumulative incidence of suspected measles cases per 10,000 population has been reported from Helmand (25.2), followed by Nuristan (21.6), Urozgan (20.7), and Jawzjan (19.1). (WHO, 9 Apr 2025)

The suspected measles figures indicate a concerning upward trend, with 12,535 new cases reported in March, reflecting a 42.8% increase compared to February. This rise suggests an increased transmission of measles particularly during the winter season. Eighty-two deaths were recorded during the month, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.7%, while cumulative deaths reached 193 (CFR 0.7%). The high CFR is an indication of the severity of measles, particularly among unvaccinated or under vaccinated populations. (WHO, 24 Apr 2025)