400 confirmed cases of cholera in Zabul: Health officials

As many as 400 cholera cases have been confirmed in recent months in Afghanistan’s southern Zabul province, health officials said on Tuesday.

Javed Hazhir, a spokesman for Public Health Ministry, said that cases have been reported in other provinces but that more cases of cholera are reported in warmer provinces in the country.

“Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Helmand and Kandahar are among provinces with the most number of cases,” Hazhir said.

He advised citizens to wash their hand before having a meal and after every trip to the toilet.

The lack of access to health facilities, poverty and unemployment are said to be the major causes of the increase in the number of cholera cases.

“I request the Public Health Ministry to pay attention to the outbreak in order to prevent deaths,” said Rahmatullah, a resident of Zabul.

Subhanullah, another Zabul resident, said that people are poor and they can’t afford to buy medicines.

The cholera surge comes as Afghanistan is already grappling with the challenges of drought, poverty and an economic crisis.

Afghanistan is in the grips of one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world and international organizations have warned of the collapsing healthcare system.

The country is also facing multiple outbreaks of disease, including COVID-19, measles, and diarrhea, as well as acute malnutrition.