Mysterious disease kills more than 300 children in Afghanistan

[rodbarnett]

ISLAMABAD, February 25 (Online): 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.

He appealed to the World Health Organization and other international organizations to send medical and relief supplies to these areas to avoid "a worst-ever human catastrophe''

http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=56071&PHPSESSID=1c24f52273ae772322d59eaec0074bef