The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Reported cases of major infectious diseases in Afghanistan declined in August compared with the previous month, according to data from the World Health Organization, with suspected measles cases falling by nearly 45% and acute watery diarrhea cases dropping by almost 24%.
The number of reported acute watery diarrhea cases fell
23.6% in August to 18,329, compared with 23,985 in July. Four associated deaths
were reported, giving the disease a monthly case fatality rate of 0.02%, the
WHO said.
Cases of acute respiratory infection pneumonia also
declined, with 64,506 cases and 170 associated deaths reported in August,
compared with 78,082 cases and 198 deaths in July. The number of cases fell
17.4% from the previous month.
Suspected measles cases dropped 44.5%, from 2,562 in July to
1,423 in August. Seven associated deaths were reported in August, compared with
nine in July.
Suspected dengue fever cases declined 41%, from 473 in July
to 279 in August. No deaths associated with dengue fever have been reported
since January, according to the WHO.
Afghanistan also reported 168 confirmed COVID-19 cases in
August, down 9.2% from 185 cases in July. No COVID-19-related deaths have been
reported since January.
Public laboratories tested 979 samples from suspected
COVID-19 cases during August, with a test positivity rate of 17.2%. The number
of tests was 38.1% lower than in July, when 1,582 samples were tested.
Suspected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases fell 36.8%,
from 302 in July to 191 in August. However, 11 associated deaths were reported
in August, compared with nine in July, resulting in a monthly case fatality
rate of 5.8%.
The WHO said it continues to support a network of health
facilities across Afghanistan. Its health network includes 41 primary health
care facilities in nine provinces, as well as specialized services including
six national infectious disease hospitals, a trauma and emergency center, a
national mental health hospital and five inpatient mental health wards across
eight provinces.
The agency also supports 11 drug treatment centers and four
opioid agonist maintenance treatment centers across 13 provinces.
During August, WHO-supported facilities provided 88,305
outpatient consultations and distributed 212 medical kits expected to benefit
about 559,000 people.
The agency also trained 750 health workers in areas
including emergency care, basic life support, mental health, noncommunicable
diseases, safe blood transfusion, surgical-site infection prevention and
mass-casualty management.
The WHO said the support is aimed at strengthening
Afghanistan's health system and maintaining access to essential health services
across the country.
