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Cholera cases in Kurdistan between 800 to
1000
13.9.2007
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September 13, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region (Iraq), --
Iraq's Kurdistan Health Minister said on Thursday
the region had between 800 to 1000 confirmed cases
of cholera, describing earlier reports on the
presence of 7,000 cholera cases in the region as
baseless.
"Reports on the presence of 7,000 cholera cases in
the region were not accurate. We have 7,000 diarrhea
cases not cholera," Zeryan Abdul Rahman said.
"The statement released by the World Health
Organization has inaccurate information," he
affirmed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday
that nearly 7,000 people in the northern Iraqi
region of Kurdistan have been infected with cholera
in past weeks, and 10 have died from the diarrhea.
"It is unclear what is the cause of the epidemic,"
said WHO spokesman Fadela Chaib.
The precise source of the outbreak spanning three
governorates, Sulaimaniyah, Kirkuk and Erbil, was
not yet clear, though polluted water was thought to
be the cause, she added.
All public water systems in the affected areas have
been chlorinated, and samples are being regularly
collected and tested to ensure potable water
standards are met, she said.
According to WHO figures, Kirkuk had more than 3,700
cases of acute diarrhea, and one related death
between July 29 and Sept. 2.
Kirkuk has its first case of cholera confirmed on
August. 14, and six laboratory-confirmed cases of
cholera have been recently been reported in Erbil.
VOI
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