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UN:
CHOLERA CONTINUES TO SPREAD IN IRAQ, UN HEALTH AGENCY REPORT: 04/10/2007 (MaximsNews Network)
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UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network /
- 04 October 2007 -Cholera
is continuing to spread across Iraq and dissemination to as yet unaffected areas
remains highly possible, with more than 30,000 people having already fallen ill
with acute watery diarrhoea, according to the latest update by the United
Nations health agency.
More
than 3,300 cases have been identified as positive for Vibrio cholerae, the
bacterium that causes the debilitating and sometimes fatal intestinal infection,
but clinical symptoms indicate the presence of cholera in many others, the UN
World Health Organization (WHO) said.
Fourteen
are known to have died from the disease which is often caused by polluted water,
but the low case-fatality rate throughout the outbreak that began in August
indicates that those who have become sick have been able to access adequate
treatment on time.
Most
laboratory-confirmed cases have occurred in the north in Kirkuk and Sulaymaniah,
but an increasing number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea has been reported in
Diala, a province neighbouring Baghdad, with clinical symptoms indicating
cholera. The number of cases has been stable in Basra, Baghdad, Dahuk, Mosul and
Tikrit, but a case has now been confirmed in the previously unaffected province
of Wasit.
The
Government has mobilized a multi-sectoral response, specific controls have been
reinforced and preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission to
unaffected areas have been put in place.
But the
overall quality of water and sanitation is very poor, a factor known to greatly
facilitate cholera contamination. WHO is procuring 5,000,000 water-treatment
tablets and two of its epidemiologists are being deployed to support the Health
Ministry.
WHO does
not recommend any restrictions to travel or trade to or from affected areas as a
means to control, but urges neighbouring countries to reinforce active
surveillance and preparedness systems. Mass chemoprophylaxis is strongly
discouraged, as it has no effect on the spread of cholera, can have adverse
effects by increasing antimicrobial resistance and provides a false sense of
security.
Use of
the current internationally available pre-qualified oral cholera vaccine is not
recommended once an outbreak has started due to its 2-dose regimen, the time
required to reach protective efficacy, high cost and the heavy logistics
associated with its use.
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
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