News Center- The World Health Organization released Tuesday a report on the number of new-suspected measles cases in Afghanistan in June 2024.

In June 2024, a total of 6,390 new suspected measles cases were reported, resulting in 21 deaths, the report said.

“This shows a 5.9 per cent decrease in the number of cases compared to the previous month. In 2024, a total of 35,021 measles suspected cases with 147 associated deaths were reported.”

Between November 2023 and June 2024, the Health Cluster partners provided health services to 549,154 (287,453 female, 261,701 male) returnees. This includes 254,238 primary healthcare consultations, 193,265 reached with health promotion activities, 26,385 receiving secondary health care services, 41,387 provided with MHPSS services, 32,986 provided with MNCH services, and 893 receiving trauma care, according to the report.

“WHO has provided a total of 236 emergency medical kits to 93 health facilities in 15 provinces which will benefit around 319,350 individuals in the next three months.”

Measles is an infectious, acute febrile viral illness characterized by upper respiratory tract symptoms, fever, and a maculopapular rash. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases; if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. The incubation period for measles averages 10-12 days from exposure to prodrome and 14 days from exposure to rash onset.