1. OVERVIEW
As of 12th of September 2007, twenty one districts of Northern Iraq have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera putting over 3.5 million people exposed to risk from this ongoing outbreak. Fourteen out of sixteen districts of Sulaymaniyah province, all five districts of Kirkuk province and two out of seven districts of Erbil province are now affected by this cholera outbreak in Northern Iraq. This outbreak, first unfolded in Kirkuk province on 14 August spread to Sulaymaniyah province on 23 August and then to Erbil province on 6th of September caused 10 deaths so far and continues to be of major threat to public health in the region.
Specific control measures to contain this ongoing outbreak and limit its spread to other areas have been reinforced by the health authorities of the affected provinces with technical support from WHO.
From 23 August to 10 September 2007, the cumulative number of cases of diarrhoeal disease reported from fourteen out of sixteen districts of Sulaymaniyah province stands at 6,142 including 9 deaths with an overall case fatality rate of 0.14%. Of these reported cases, Vibrio cholerae has been laboratory confirmed in 392 stool specimens.
While during the period from 29 July to 12 September 2007, the health authority of Kirkuk province reported a total of 6,749 cases of diarrhoeal disease including 1 death (CFR: 0.01%). The first index case of cholera, confirmed by laboratory test, was reported from Kirkuk province on 14 August 2007. So far, from the Kirkuk province, a total of 630 stool specimens were tested positive for Vibrio cholerae.
On 6th of September, the first laboratory-confirmed case of cholera was reported for the first time from one of the districts (Erbil centre) of Erbil province. Later on, laboratory confirmed cases were also reported from Koisnjaq district. So far, 33 stool specimens have tested positive for Vibrio cholerae serogroup 01 Inaba in this province. Although cumulative number of cases of acute watery diarrhea since the first index case of Vibrio cholerae was laboratory confirmed is still not available, the Communicable Disease Control unit of Erbil Directorate of Health reported 11,641 cases of diarrhoeal disease with no death from the entire province from 1st of September to 10th of September, 2007.
Table-1: Cases of diarrhoeal diseases reported from three provinces of Northern Iraq
|
Province
|
No of districts
affected |
Date outbreak
started |
No of DDs
reported |
No of deaths
reported |
CFR (%)
|
| Sulaymaniyah |
5
|
23/08/07
|
6,142
|
9
|
0.14
|
| Kirkuk |
5
|
14/08/07
|
6,749
|
1
|
0.01
|
| Erbil |
2
|
06/09/07
|
11,641
|
Note: The time period of these reported cases varies from one province to another. For details please refer to the text above.