Iraq: Cholera spreading from the north

As of 27th of September 2007, 26 districts of Northern Iraq and 7 districts in the south and center have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera, the World Health Organization reports. 13 out of the 14 districts of Sulaymaniyah governorate, all five districts of Kirkuk governorate, all seven districts of Erbil governorate; three districts in Tikrit as well as one district in each of Wassit, Mosul, Baghdad and Basra are now affected by this cholera outbreak. 95% of Iraq’s cholera cases were reported from Sulymania and Kirkuk in north Iraq, the outbreak seems to be slowly spreading to the neighboring provinces of Erbil and Diala with 106 cases in Erbil and 22 cases from Diala diagnosed on clinical grounds. Out of the 2,758 lab confirmed cases; only 14 death were reported, most the deceased have another serious underlying cause.

Source: Relief Web, 29 Sep 2007

Keywords

• Water-related diseases
• Emergencies