UN: Cholera Spreading Across Iraq

The disease cholera is reported to be spreading in multiple regions across Iraq, causing over thirty thousand people to become ill, and fourteen deaths. Water and sanitation conditions are blamed for this. Some measures are being taken by the Iraqi government and the U.N. World Health Organization to help eliminate the disease.

According to a press release issued by the United Nations on Thursday, the U.N. World Health Organization has reported that over 3300 cases of cholera in Iraq have been identified as the type capable of causing intestinal infection, sometimes fatal. Cholera has been most prevalent in the northern part of Iraq, but is increasingly affecting the central region and may spread to other areas. It also indicated that fourteen Iraqis have died due to cholera since the outbreak started in August, although this is a relatively low fatality rate, which indicates that many were able to receive treatment.

The press release also states that the Iraqi government has taken some measures to prevent cholera from reaching areas it has not yet spread to, but the sanitation and water quality remains "very poor", which is linked to increased cholera. The U.N. World Health Organization intends to provide five million water treatment tablets to Iraqis, and send two epidemiologists to assist the government's Health Ministry in combating the disease.

According to the World Health Organization report referred to by the press release, the outbreak was first detected in Kirkuk, which is located in northern Iraq. Since then, it has spread to nine out of eighteen provinces in Iraq. The number of people with cholera is increasing most significantly in Kirkuk, Sulaymaniah, and Diala provinces. The report advises that cholera vaccines should not be used after an outbreak has begun, and indicates that the organization does not recommend restricting trade or travel involving the affected regions.

The CIA World Factbook provides some additional statistics regarding the health situation in Iraq. The average life expectancy is 69.3 years, while the infant mortality rate is 47 per 1000. These statistics do not compare favorably with neighboring countries Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, Syria, or Turkey, although such indicators are worse in some parts of the world.

The World Health Organization's web site indicates that the organization was created in 1948, three years after the United Nations was formed. It is designated as the United Nations' "directing and coordinating authority" regarding health-related issues.

Sources:

1. United Nations, http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24184
2. World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_10_03/en/index.html
3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/iz.html#People