World Health Organization confirms first cholera case in Baghdad since 2003

[Amerigo Vespucci]

First Cholera Case Confirmed in Baghdad

Sep 20, 4:06 PM (ET)

By SAMEER N. YACOUB

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070920/D8RPD6EO0.html

BAGHDAD (AP) - The World Health Organization confirmed on Thursday the first cholera case in Baghdad since 2003, raising fears the disease is spreading from the north of the country where it has struck more than 1,000 people.

(Dr. Naeema)Al-Gasseer (the WHO's representative in Iraq) said health authorities were concerned the disease could spread because of the movement of people within Iraq's borders. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have been forced to flee their homes because of violence. A disease that would otherwise be easily treatable has been made all the more dangerous because of Iraq's precarious security situation following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. "We need to look at safe water, safe import of food, hygiene, the network of water and the network of sewage disposal," al-Gasseer said in a telephone interview.

The latest WHO report dated Sept. 14 reported a total of 24,532 cases of people with symptoms of cholera such as diarrhea and vomiting in the northern provinces. Out of those, laboratory tests have confirmed 1,055 cases of cholera. It said 10 people have died - nine in Sulaimaniyah and one in Tamim.

Al-Gasseer also said some 100,000 tons of chlorine were being held up at Iraq's border with Jordan, apparently because of fears the chemical could be used in explosives. She urged authorities to release it for use in decontaminating water supplies. Insurgents in the country staged several chlorine truck bombings this year, killing scores of Iraqis.

[shraby]

1. If Bushco can't kill them with bullets and bombs,

he'll kill them with contaminated water. Arencha proud to be a Merikan?