Erbil, 9 October – International WHO experts, led by WHO Representative in Iraq Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, visited north Iraq to assess the cholera outbreak and review outbreak response mechanisms in place. The team comprising an epidemiologist, and water, sanitation, emergency response and other national experts visited Suliemaniyah, Kirkuk, Erbil and Dohuk, to provide support to the local health authorities to deal with the emerging situation and provide technical support on how to speed up the response.
Dr Hussain praised the leadership of H.E. Minister of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government Dr Rekawt H. Rashid Karim in managing the strategic response of the Ministry of Health, and partners, in addressing the outbreak. He said, “The timely action of the Directorate of Health not only prevented the rapid spread of the outbreak but also facilitated an effective response thereby by keeping the case fatality rate low at 0.08%”.
According to available data from the preventive health department the total number of reported acute watery diarrhoea cases from Suleimaniyah, from 15 September 2012 to 8 October 2012, was 3392, out of which 205 stool samples were confirmed as cholera and three deaths were reported. The deaths were among two males and one female, all above the age of 60. There was one confirmed cholera case in Dohuk. The analysis undertaken by the Ministry of Health, with the support of WHO, indicated that the total number of cases started declining from 4 October, and the severity of the cases is also showing decline.
All preparedness measures are in place with enhanced surveillance in the area. An extensive media and a community awareness campaign is being carried out using television, radio, newspapers, hand bill distribution and mobile phone messages to control the spread of the outbreak. Water chlorination levels have been raised at all sources with strict monitoring at the source distribution and household level. WHO is also supporting the Ministry of Health in training doctors in Erbil and Suleimaniyah hospitals on case management, and providing medical supplies, when needed.
The team are advising on quick response measures to enhance chlorination measures at all water sources with active monitoring at all levels and the continued training of health care providers on case management of cholera.