Cholera outbreak reported in Iraq

Two hospitals in southern Iraq have reported 17 cases of cholera, and the World Health Organisation said it feared far more had gone unreported.

“An outbreak of cholera, affecting probably several hundreds of people, is occurring,” warned Fadela Chaib of the UN agency, which sent a team to the southern city of Basra this week.

Initial cases were seen in children aged under four from the northern part of the city.

Two local hospitals, Al-Tahir Teaching Hospital and Basra Maternal and Child Hospital, have confirmed 17 cases so far.

More samples have been sent to a laboratory in Kuwait for confirmation, and final results are expected by tomorrow. No deaths have been reported so far.

Health officials said they feared the problem was already reaching epidemic proportions.

“If we’re seeing 17 confirmed cases, you can expect 10 times more within the larger population,” said Dr Denis Coulombier, an epidemiologist with WHO.

Cholera is a waterborne disease that can be treated if detected.

It can be fatal if the victims are malnourished children.

Health experts have been warning of the potential for a large outbreak of cholera, given the shortages of clean water and the lack of sanitation in the southern Iraqi region.

During the war, Basra’s water treatment system was shut down after coalition air strikes damaged the electric grid which powers the water plant.

Residents in the city of two million went for several weeks without running water.