Mysterious disease kills more than 300 children in Afghanistan

More than 300 children have died of a mysterious disease in Afghanistan's northern province of Badakhshan in less than a month, An Afghan news agency reported yesterday. The agency quoted Shamsur Rehman, Deputy Governor of the province as saying that it appears to be a respiratory disease, which begins with flu but later chokes the breathing system of the children. Rehman said the number of casualties might be higher but getting exact numbers was difficult in the remote and extremely cold region at the foot of the Hindukush mountains. The official said the cities of Wakhan, Darwaz, Yaftal and Khwahan, bordering China and Tajikistan, have also been hit by the disease. "Relief organizations and government officials are providing succour to the people in several disease-hit areas, but there are many places, which cannot be accessed without helicopters,'' Rehman told said agency.

Posted by flow Frazao on February 25, 2004 at 07:32 AM | Permalink