The cholera outbreak in Iraq has spread to neighbouring Kuwait, Bahrain and Syria and there are huge concerns this will surge as millions of Shi'ite Muslim prepare to visit Iraq for their pilgrimage in December, says UNICEF. Since the disease was detected in winter in Baghdad, at least 2,200 people have been affected, with at least six dead so far; the primary cause for the outbreak was September flooding that contaminated the Euphrates river and shallow wells with sewage water. UNICEF and the World Health Organisation are launching a major campaign to try and tackle the disease in Iraq. As we briefed last week, the large displacement of Syrian people to overcrowded camps has led to a rise in cholera, and with huge numbers migrating from these camps, coupled with the risk in Iraq, there are concerns of a large scale outbreak across other countries, including Europe.
The cholera outbreak in Iraq has spread to neighbouring Kuwait, Bahrain and Syria and there are huge concerns this will surge as millions of Shi'ite Muslim prepare to visit Iraq for their pilgrimage in December, says UNICEF. Since the disease was detected in September in Baghdad, at least 2,200 people have been affected, with at least six dead so far; the primary cause for the outbreak was winter flooding that contaminated the Euphrates river and shallow wells with sewage water. UNICEF and the World Health Organisation are launching a major campaign to try and tackle the disease in Iraq. As we briefed last week, the large displacement of Syrian people to overcrowded camps has led to a rise in cholera, and with huge numbers migrating from these camps, coupled with the risk in Iraq, there are concerns of a large scale outbreak across other countries, including Europe.