Dengue Fever Cases Surge in Nangarhar: WHO Reports Over 1,000 Suspected Cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a significant rise in suspected dengue fever cases in Nangarhar province, surpassing 1,000 cases in the month of November.

Significant Increase and Active Virus Spread

In a newly released report, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the notable surge of suspected dengue fever cases in Nangarhar province during this month (November).

According to the organization’s statistics, over 1,000 suspected dengue cases have been recorded in November, marking an increase of nearly 8 percent compared to the previous month. However, despite the rise in cases, the WHO confirmed that, fortunately, no fatalities related to this illness have been reported in Nangarhar.

The organization pointed out that test results reveal concerning levels of virus activity in the region. Out of 1,096 samples collected and tested from patients, 685 were found to be infected with the dengue virus. This indicates that approximately 6 out of every 10 individuals tested have returned positive results, highlighting the active and widespread circulation of the virus across eastern Afghanistan.

Dengue Fever in Six Provinces and Patient Demographics

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the Aedes mosquito, commonly known as the tiger mosquito.

Based on WHO data, a total of 4,384 suspected dengue cases have been reported across six provinces of Afghanistan since the beginning of 2025. These provinces include Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Kabul, Ghazni, and Paktia.

Regarding the demographics of the patients recorded in November, the report indicates that 41.6 percent of those affected were women, and around 98 percent of them were over the age of five.

WHO Calls for Immediate Action

In the conclusion of its report, the WHO has emphasized that the recent increase in cases necessitates urgent and preventive measures. The organization has called for stronger surveillance of disease outbreaks, enhanced rapid response teams to manage new cases, and increased public awareness among residents to prevent further spread of the illness.