Disease Epidemic Health Concerns in Afghanistan

War, Disease Outbreaks, Infections, Infant Death, Malnutrition

Sep 28, 2009

The status of health care in Afghanistan has been decimated by decades of war. Disease epidemics are common, including outbreaks of polio. Infant mortality is also high.

Occupation by foreign powers, bombing of urban and rural areas, landmines, the destruction of infrastructure and complete economic failure have made the population of Afghanistan extremely vulnerable to disease epidemics. War in Afghanistan has increased numerous infectious diseases ranging from common illnesses to rare and deadly diseases, which worsen the existing extreme hardships of local peoples.

Measles, Hepatitis and Polio Outbreaks Common

Outbreaks of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid and malaria are frequent, though they are preventable with simple strategies and cheaply available vaccinations. Vaccination campaigns in some areas have been successful, however due to the ongoing conflict, lack of resources and repeated forced migration of refugees, outbreaks are still common in Afghanistan.

Other disease epidemics include cholera, measles, meningitis, dengue fever, sandfly fever, pertussis, Congo-Crimea hemorrhagic fever (which is similar to the Ebola virus), gastrointestinal viruses and diphtheria. Disorders related to severe or chronic malnutrition such as scurvy are also common. The number of cases of individuals infected with HIV/AIDS is also reportedly increasing due to a rising number of intravenous drug users. According the World Health Organization, infections of the poliovirus which is almost nonexistent in the world today, still occurs in Afghanistan.

Lack of Sanitation and Clean Water Causes Disease

The loss of infrastructure such as electricity, water and sanitation and lack of hospitals, clinics and health workers increase the numbers of individuals affected and killed by disease epidemics and infections. Sewage and rubbish pollute neighborhoods and homes and seep into water wells and rivers. Forced migration and crowding into refugee camps increases epidemics through poor living conditions and close contact with infected individuals.

This lack of sanitation contaminates food and water sources with pathogenic bacteria, parasites and viruses, even in major urban cities. Food and water-borne diseases include bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, E.coli, salmonella and Amoebiasis. Hepatitis A and E are also spread through contaminated water.

Infant Death High in Afghanistan

Neonatal sepsis, (infections in newborns) is common in Afghanistan due to malnourishment and inadequate care facilities. According to the World Health Organization, a fifth of every 1,000 babies born alive do not survive, and every 30 minutes, a mother dies due to pregnancy complications during childbirth.

In warmer Spring and Summer months of May to November, mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies are common in Afghanistan, and act as disease carrying vectors for the transmission of malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (carried by ticks), typhus (carried by lice and mites) and sandfly fever.

Overcrowding, malnutrition, lack of adequate shelters and cold climates during the winter also increase respiratory diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, meningitis, measles and acute respiratory infections. Allergies and asthma are worsened in susceptible individuals. These illnesses cause high rates of mortality in children below the age of five years, due to undernourishment, exposure to extreme temperatures and a lack of vaccinations or medications.

Afghanistan has the highest rates of new cases of tuberculosis in the world and without extensive vaccination campaigns, polio remains a serious threat to children.

The copyright of the article Disease Epidemic Health Concerns in Afghanistan in International Health & Science is owned by Noreen Kassem. Permission to republish Disease Epidemic Health Concerns in Afghanistan in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.