The World Health Organization warns of an increase in measles cases in Afghanistan

The World Health Organization says measles has spread to Afghanistan.

The outbreak of measles in Afghanistan has risen since late July, the organization’s spokeswoman, Karsesh Landmeier, told a news conference yesterday.

“The incidence and mortality rate of measles in Afghanistan has increased by 18% during the third week of January this year and by 40% in the last week of January,” he said.

“The rapid increase in the number of cases in January indicates that the number of deaths from measles is likely to increase in the coming weeks,” he added.

A World Health Organization spokesman warned that the number of measles patients in Afghanistan was likely to rise.