Major infectious diseases decline in Afghanistan in August: WHO — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): The World Health Organisation (WHO) says cases of major infectious diseases showed a downward trend in August compared with July in Afghanistan. However, the risks of waterborne and vaccine-preventable diseases, along with pressure caused by the return of migrants, remain. WHO’s Afghanistan Health Emergency Situation Report No. 67 said cases of acute watery diarrhoea with dehydration fell by 23.6 percent, pneumonia by 17.4 percent, suspected measles cases by 44.5 percent, suspected dengue fever cases by 41 percent, suspected Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases by 36.8 percent and confirmed Covid-19 cases by 9.2 percent in August compared with July. The report said 18,329 cases of acute watery diarrhoea with dehydration were recorded in August, resulting in four deaths. In July, 23,985 cases and 14 deaths were reported. It added that 64,506 cases of pneumonia and 170 deaths were reported during the month, compared with 78,082 cases and 198 deaths in July. During the same period, 1,423 suspected measles cases, including seven deaths, 279 suspected dengue fever cases, 191 suspected CCHF cases, including 11 deaths, and 168 confirmed Covid-19 cases were reported. WHO noted that from the beginning of 2026 through the end of August, a total of 845,067 pneumonia cases, 102,469 cases of acute watery diarrhoea with dehydration, 18,826 suspected measles cases, 1,930 suspected dengue fever cases and 1,449…