Tajikistan closes border with Afghanistan

FAIZABAD (PAN amid concerns over the outbreak of cholera in northeastern Badakhshan province, officials said on Tuesday.

Recently, 1600 people were infected with cholera in the Darayam district of Badakhshan, prompting the Tajikistan government to seal the border with Afghanistan four days ago, the governor’s spokesman said.

Abdul Maroof Rasikh told Pajhwok Afghan News more than 200 cholera patients were treated daily and the disease had been controlled to a large extent.

The life-threatening bacterial ailment breaks out every year in the province, but the department concerned could contain it, according to Public Health Director Dr. Noor Ahmad Khawri. Due to efforts of public health staff and timely availability of medicines, they could control the situation, he added.

Khoshnood Rahmatullahov, one of Tajikistan’s border guards, told reporters the closure had come in response to a request from the health ministry.

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