Health officials from Ghor province report that over the past eleven months, more than 450 children have been diagnosed with measles in this province, two of whom have died.
Mohammad Musa Alfat, a pediatric specialist at the central hospital of Ghor province, stated that the intensive care unit of this hospital is filled with children who have recently been brought in for treatment due to the outbreak of measles from various areas.
Mr. Alfat emphasized that the lack of vaccination against measles, the influx of floods, and families’ lack of awareness about this disease are among the main reasons for the infection of children with measles.
He added, “Compared to two years ago, the incidence of measles in Ghor has increased; unvaccinated children, poor hygiene practices, and the use of unsafe water are contributing factors to the spread of measles.”
Some families of these children report that their children first contracted pneumonia and then developed measles.
Mohammad Dawood, a resident of Ghor’s capital, mentioned that his child contracted measles about seven days ago.
He said, “We went to the hospital from the village; my child had pneumonia and then developed measles; he is still hospitalized now.”
Officials in the pediatric department of the Ghor provincial hospital stated that since the beginning of this solar year until now, more than 450 children have contracted this disease, with two children having died.
Additionally, Hesamuddin Hami, deputy head of the public health department in Ghor, clarified that measles is spreading more in the districts of Murghab, Taywara, and parts surrounding the city of Firozkoh, the provincial capital.
The deputy head of the public health department stated: “The services we have against measles are the measles vaccine, which is available in all health centers. Residents of Ghor can vaccinate their children to protect them from contracting measles in the future. The national vaccination campaign is conducted every three years.”
It should be noted that measles is a common contagious disease among children. High fever, loss of appetite, cough, and skin rashes are symptoms of this disease.
