To Afghanistan's Many Problems, Now Add The Flu

An old man hawks surgical face masks to ward of the flu in Kabul's central marketplace. (Chuck Liddy / Raleigh News & Observer / MCT)

From McClatchy News:

KABUL, Afghanistan — As if the Taliban, car bombs, roadside bombs, leftover Soviet land mines, political unrest and errant NATO air attacks weren't enough, Afghans are facing a new killer: the H1N1 flu pandemic.

The government has declared a state of emergency, and closed schools, universities and even wedding halls and public bathrooms for three weeks to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 10 people in the capital in less than two weeks. Cases are popping up in provinces spanning the country, with new outbreaks reported in two more provinces on Saturday.

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My Comment: More people are going to die from the flu and other related illnesses in Afghanistan (this winter) than all the killings that are occurring from this war combined.