The Ministry of Public Health announced that a nationwide measles vaccination campaign will be held in the country this month.

Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, the spokesperson for the ministry, stated that since the beginning of this year, nearly 4,000 suspected cases of this disease have been recorded across the country.

He told TOLOnews: "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. The Ministry of Public Health, in order to prevent measles like other contagious diseases, is offering measles vaccine services at nearly 3,000 centers."

Previously, the World Health Organization reported that in the 20th week of this year (2025), 21 people died due to measles in the country.

Marsal, the mother of one of the sick children, told TOLOnews: "My child is five months old. He had a high fever, and we brought him to the hospital. The doctors said he has symptoms of measles. My child is currently in the ICU but has not been vaccinated yet."

Doctors at Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital report a rise in the disease in recent years, with 10 to 12 children being admitted daily due to measles.

Mohammad Arif Hassanzai, a doctor at Indira Gandhi hospital in Kabul, told TOLOnews: "Every day, 8 to 12 new patients come in, meaning that some of our patients recover, and new ones take their place. The increase in measles cases has been ongoing for several months."

Earlier, data provided by the World Health Organization indicated that in the 20th week of this year, a total of 4,043 suspected measles cases and 21 deaths were recorded in Afghanistan.