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In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reports measles has spread in several provinces of Afghanistan and infected 15,900 children since the beginning of 2022, according to a Khaama Press report.
Officials also note measles has taken the lives of 124 children.
The ministry has said that most of the children have lost lives in the Afghan capital Kabul, Helmand, and Kunduz provinces while most cases of measles have been recorded in Jawzjan, Ghor, and Kunduz provinces.
The measles virus is in the paramyxovirus family and normally grows in the back of the throat and lungs. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals.
Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe vaccine is available. After getting the virus, the patient does not show any symptoms for two to three weeks. However, the infected patient can infect others four days before showing a rash and four days after the rash.
Two doses of the vaccine are recommended to ensure immunity
Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with vitamin A insufficiency, or whose immune systems have been weakened.
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