Médecins Sans Frontières is concerned about the rising incidence of measles in Afghanistan

Médecins Sans Frontières has expressed concern about the rising incidence of measles in Afghanistan, saying that Herat, Kunduz and Helmand provinces currently have the highest incidence of the disease.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said in a statement today that 90 children with measles had been admitted to Herat hospital in the past week alone, and that Helmand and Kunduz provinces had the highest number of measles cases.

Last week, the agency announced the opening of a special ward for measles patients at the Herat provincial hospital, saying that the ward had grown to 60 beds.

But a statement issued by the agency today said that all beds in the ward had been filled with measles patients over the past week and that there was now no rooms for other sick children.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health of the Taliban government has said that Kunduz with 1,997 cases, Kabul with 1,696 cases and Helmand with 1,495 cases have the highest number of measles cases in the whole country.

Officials at the ministry say they plan to increase vaccinations in the coming months.