Cholera outbreak kills five in northern Iraq

[sabra]

Source: Azzaman

A cholera epidemic has spread in northern Iraq, particularly in Kirkuk and Sulaimaniya, killing at least five people, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

A WHO source, refusing to be named, told the newspaper laboratory-confirmed and observed cases of Cholera in northern Iraq could reach thousands and there were fears the epidemic could strike other areas due to poor sanitation.

The health minister in the regional Kurdish government, Zaryan Othman, confirmed the cholera-related deaths and said thousands of people have been hospitalized in the past week on suspicions of contracting the disease.

Cholera has always been present in central and southern parts of Iraq, particularly in the hot months of summer. But the epidemic has rarely hit northern Iraq with such severity.

Read more: http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news/2007-08-28/kurd.htm

[soothsayer]

1. War in the Time of Cholera (sequel to the other book?)

[libodem]

2. Surprising that it hasn't happened before now

Raw sewage running down the streets has been par for the course since we invaded. I'll wager a lot of children and babies have died already from Cholera and that it is under reported. If we did nothing more than deliver bottled water to the Iraq people we would be hailed as heroes. Instead we are chasing them out of Baghdad into the desert to live in the elements without food or WATER.