The World Health Organisation Wednesday called on Iraq's neighbours to reinforce surveillance for cholera as the disease spread in the conflict-ridden country.
The WHO said in a statement it was not recommending any travel or trade restrictions to and from affected areas in Iraq, where 3,389 cases of cholera have now been confirmed and 14 people have died from the disease.
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine and is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Advertisement
"However, neighbouring countries are encouraged to reinforce their active surveillance and preparedness systems," it added.
More than 3,100 of the cases are in the northeastern provinces of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniah where the outbreak first emerged in August, but infections were now reported in nine out of 18 provinces, the WHO said.
![Cholera Infects 16,000 People in Northern Iraq: WHO]( "Cholera Infects 16,000 People in Northern Iraq: WHO")
The cholera outbreak in northern Iraq has infected some 16,000 people since late August, of whom at least 10 have died, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.
"The disease is continuing to spread across Iraq and dissemination to as yet unaffected areas remains highly possible," it added.
The disease reached Baghdad two weeks ago, and a growing number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea -- which are suspected to be cholera -- were now being reported in Diyala, a province neighbouring the capital, according to the WHO.
It "strongly discouraged" preventive medication, saying the step had no effect and could increase resistance of the bacteria, while vaccination was not recommended once an outbreak was underway.
The outbreak and its spread was blamed on poor quality water supplies and sanitation.
The UN health agency said it was buying five million water treatment tablets for Iraq, and sending and two epidemiologists to help the Iraqi health ministry fight the cholera outbreak.
Source: AFP
SRM/C
Cholera Infects 16,000 People in Northern Iraq: WHO
The cholera outbreak in northern Iraq has infected some 16,000 people since late August, of whom at least 10 have died, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.
Advertisement
"The disease is continuing to spread across Iraq and dissemination to as yet unaffected areas remains highly possible," it added.
The disease reached Baghdad two weeks ago, and a growing number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea -- which are suspected to be cholera -- were now being reported in Diyala, a province neighbouring the capital, according to the WHO.
It "strongly discouraged" preventive medication, saying the step had no effect and could increase resistance of the bacteria, while vaccination was not recommended once an outbreak was underway.
The outbreak and its spread was blamed on poor quality water supplies and sanitation.
The UN health agency said it was buying five million water treatment tablets for Iraq, and sending and two epidemiologists to help the Iraqi health ministry fight the cholera outbreak.
Source: AFP
SRM/C
Aid Agencies Appeals for Fund as Cholera Looms Africa
Aid agencies appealed for funds Friday to tackle floods that have swept across at least 18 African countries, killing close to 300 already and heightening the risks of disease outbreaks.
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Tropical Disease News
The WHO has assessed the risk of monkeypox for the general population in countries not previously impacted by the current outbreak as low.
Nipah is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Fruit bats serve as the natural reservoirs for Nipah virus.
Nipah Virus (NiV) or Hendra virus is a deadly virus that spreads via contact with the saliva, urine, or excreta of fruit bats or pigs.
Nipah virus is mainly a zoonotic disease, transferring from animals to humans, and can also spread via contaminated food or contact with infected individuals.
Japanese Encephalitis in Assam, causing over 15 deaths during the monsoon season, officials are on high alert.
