Malaria Still a Major Public Health Concern in Afghanistan

KABUL — Malaria continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Afghanistan, with more than 50,000 confirmed cases reported across public and private health facilities in the past six months, officials say.

Rising Case Numbers
Dr. Mohammad Naeem Habib, Technical Coordinator of the National Malaria and Other Vector-Borne Diseases Control Program, said the mosquito-borne illness remains a serious parasitic disease in the country.
Between January and June this year, public health centers recorded 42,141 cases, while private clinics reported another 9,600.

In 2024, the total reached 257,000 confirmed cases in public facilities and 32,683 in private facilities—mostly in Nangarhar, Laghman, and Kunar provinces, where free treatment was provided.
The majority of cases this year have been concentrated in eastern provinces, including Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan, Khost, and Paktika.

No malaria-related deaths have been recorded so far this year, though two fatalities were reported in Nuristan and Paktia in 2024.

Understanding Malaria
According to Dr. Faridullah Amiri of Kabul’s National and Specialized Infectious Diseases Hospital, malaria is an acute, contagious disease transmitted primarily by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It can affect people of all ages and remains a global health concern.

Symptoms include high fever, chills, sweating, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea. The disease can also spread through blood transfusions, shared contaminated syringes among drug users, and from infected mothers to their unborn children.

Stagnant water—found in small canals, pits, near water taps, or other sites—provides breeding grounds for mosquitoes, enabling further spread.

Prevention Measures
Dr. Amiri urged households to install window and door screens, and to use insecticide-treated bed nets, especially when sleeping outdoors. He also warned that malaria, like tuberculosis and AIDS, can be fatal if left untreated or if medication is misused without medical supervision.

Patients Speak Out
Patients at Kabul’s Infectious Diseases Hospital expressed satisfaction with treatment.
Nasir Ahmad Salehi, from Parwan province, said his condition improved significantly after being hospitalized for malaria two weeks ago.
Similarly, Haseebullah Ahmadi from Kabul said he felt “much better” after receiving medication following his diagnosis.

Mosquito Net Distribution
To reduce infection rates, the Ministry of Public Health distributes mosquito nets in high-risk areas each year. In 2024, 267,276 nets were provided to vulnerable communities.
So far in 2025, 17,962 nets have been distributed to Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan.

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