Iraq cholera outbreak slows

Kristyn Phillips


http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSKAM037742



Finally the cholera outbreak in Iraq is under control. Since it began in August, the disease killed 22 and there were 4,444 confirmed cases. The epicenter of the outbreak is in Kirkuk where there were 2,968 cases and five deaths. Restaurants and water sources are being monitored to prevent further outbreak. Doctor Sabah al-Dawoudi reported that on October 29 there were three reported cases which is remarkable compared to the greater then 50 cases per day at the start of the outbreak. In Iraq officials are giving advice on how to avoid the disease. In some cases juice stalls are required to use mineral water and restaurants are not allowed to serve salads or tap water.

After about three months it is good to see the numbers of cases dropping. Of all the reported cases it is surprising that more people did not die form the disease. Officals seem to have taken the right measures to get the cholera outbreak under control and to prevent more cases from emerging. If Iraq could get sanitary water it would prevent a lot of the risk of contracting the disease.