Kabul, Nov 6 (NationPress) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning regarding an escalating risk of a measles outbreak in Afghanistan, urging families to vaccinate their children under the age of five, according to local media sources.

In an official statement, the WHO emphasized the importance of ensuring that all children under five receive their measles vaccination at health facilities across Afghanistan.

The organization highlighted that vaccination is the most effective strategy to curb the spread of measles, which has already resulted in numerous child fatalities in Afghanistan in recent months, as reported by Khaama Press.

Furthermore, the WHO pointed out that issues such as malnutrition and limited healthcare access have exacerbated the situation, leaving many children susceptible to diseases like measles.

Last week, health authorities in Nangarhar initiated a ten-day vaccination campaign aimed at preventing new infections and safeguarding vulnerable populations.

In recent years, Afghanistan has experienced several measles outbreaks, attributed to declining vaccination rates and a weakened healthcare system. International health experts have cautioned that without ongoing vaccination efforts, the country risks facing another major epidemic, which would further strain its already fragile public health system.

Earlier in September, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric revealed that officials from the World Food Programme (WFP) have indicated that Afghanistan is on the brink of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in 2025, with over 4.7 million women and children in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition, as reported by Tolo News.

Dujarric stated, "Our colleagues at the World Food Programme warn that the country is facing a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in 2025. WFP pointed out that this year has seen the highest spike in acute malnutrition ever recorded, with more than 4.7 million women and children in need of urgent treatment."

Reports indicate that most malnourished children in Afghanistan are being admitted to the Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul for care. Physicians at the hospital have also noted a surge in patients requiring treatment for malnutrition, with three to five severely malnourished children being admitted daily.

Mohammad Arif Hasanzai, head of the hospital’s internal medicine department, remarked, "Mild and moderate malnutrition cases are rare, and we don’t admit them. If they do come, we provide nutritional counseling and send them home. Our hospital has 20 beds for this purpose, and they are always occupied."