December 2007

Jordan school children poisoned by government milk
10 Dec 2007
Al Arabiya News Channel [edited]
The Health official was cited as telling that more than 100 Jordanian schoolchildren have been treated for food poisoning after drinking government-distributed milk at several elementary schools. The Education Minister was cited as saying the government decided to withdraw all milk produced in November from schools and that investigations were under way. The outbreak was the third in Jordan in less than a year.

Iraq - Cholera (Baghdad)
4 Dec 2007
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, Reuters Foundation report [edited]
Iraq will continue to suffer from cholera for the next 2 years until projects for providing sanitized water and a new sewage system are built, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday [4 Dec 2007]. According to the general inspector in the Health Ministry, because ofa defect in the infrastructure in providing sanitized water and in sewage, the problem of cholera will stay deep rooted. Iraq has been hit by a cholera outbreak in 2007, focused mainly on the north but lately spreading to the capital Baghdad. The general inspector said 4637 cases of cholera have been registered in Iraq, mostly in the 2 cities of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq. So far, 24 cases have been fatal. In November 2007, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF said in a report that only 20 percent of families outside Baghdad had access to proper sewage, and Iraq's sewage treatment plants operate at just 17 percent of capacity. The general inspector said in the east side of Baghdad there had been 106 cases of cholera, including one fatality. In the west there had been 9 cases, 7 of them, including 2 fatalities, in an institution for the severely disabled. A World Health Organization clinic has been set up at the institution and patients are being provided bottled water, the UNICEF report said. According to this report, the capital accounts for 79 percent of all new cases.
Related stories
27 Dec 2007 - Iraq - Cholera WHO Report
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO report [edited]
New laboratory-confirmed cholera cases reported during 10-16 Dec 2007 (week 51) - Baghdad: no report was received this week - Kirkuk: 0 of 24 samples tested positive. For the 3rd week in a row no cholera case was reported from Kirkuk. - Sulaymaniyah: no report was received this week - Ninewa: during the period 9 Sept 2007-16 Dec 2007, 21 837 acute diarrhoea cases were reported, 15 570 stool samples tested for cholera, and only 5 tested positive for Vibrio cholerae - Erbil: 0 of 50 samples tested positive - Diyala: 0 (number of samples tested not reported) Total new cases: 0 Overview and pattern of transmission in Baghdad Province During week 51, no report was received from Baghdad; therefore, the cumulative number of laboratory confirmed cases remained as reported at 127 cases. Data provided from Baghdad are neither complete nor timely; therefore, reported cholera cases may underestimate the real situation. What is reported from Baghdad seems to be the tip of the iceberg. There is a noticeable relaxation in the surveillance system in all affected provinces including Baghdad.

Pakistan - About 300 people hospitalised for food poisoning
02 Dec 2007
Spirit India [edited]
About 300 people were, according to this story, admitted to hospitals for food poisoning after they ate sweets infected with fungus in Ghotki town in Pakistan's Sindh province. The Sindh's Health Minister was cited as saying that officially around 200 people had been treated in hospitals but the figure could be higher. Media reports said about 300 people were admitted to hospitals due to food poisoning on Monday. Police arrested the owner of a big sweet shop which supplied the infected sweets to other small shops in the area.

November 2007

Djibouti - Cholera, diarrhea
23 Nov 2007
PR Newswire [edited]
The American Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing USD 100 000 in emergency funding to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) for medical supplies and to facilitate an intensive health, sanitation, and hygiene campaign to prevent the further spread of diarrhea in Djibouti. Since January 2007, limited access to safe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene conditions led to a surge in diarrhea and cholera in Djibouti, primarily affecting Djibouti city and nearby Dikhil and Tadjourah districts, according to the Djibouti Ministry of Health. A total of 3 surges in reported cases of diarrhea and cholera in January, April, and September 2007 have drained the resources of local government and relief agencies to adequately respond. The ministry reported more than 1000 diarrhea cases since early September 2007 and reports over 40 new cases per day.

Iraq - Cholera - WHO report
4 Nov 2007
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO report [edited]
New laboratory-confirmed cholera cases reported during 22-28 Oct 2007: - Kirkuk: 22 (of 410 samples tested) 5.4 percent - Sulaymaniyah: 7 (samples tested not reported) - Erbil: 10 (of 408 samples tested) 2 percent - Baghdad: 13 (The number of stool samples tested not reported) Total new cases 51 The most important development this week is the steep increase in the number of cholera cases reported from Baghdad compared to last week. The number of laboratory confirmed cases jumped from 11 to 24 cholera cases representing an increase of 227 percent in the cumulative cases. 26 percent of new confirmed cholera cases this week were reported from Baghdad Resafa; mainly from the highest risk areas in the 3 most disadvantaged districts in Baghdad (Sadder City, Me'dain, and Resafa districts). Data provided from Baghdad is neither complete nor timely; therefore what is reported may be an underestimation of the real situation. As of 4 Nov 2007, 45 districts, 28 in northern Iraq and 17 in the center and south have reported laboratory confirmed cases of cholera. In northern Iraq, 13 out of the 14 districts of Sulaymaniyah governorate, all 5 districts of Kirkuk governorate, 6 of 7 districts of Erbil governorate, and 4 districts in Dahuk. As for the centre and South; the affected districts are: 3 districts in each of Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul, and Diyala; 2 districts in Basra as well as one district in each of Wasit and Anbar. Specific control measures to contain this ongoing outbreak and limit its spread to other areas have been reinforced by the concerned governmental departments of the affected provinces, with technical support from WHO. In non-epidemic provinces, during the period 14 Aug-4 Nov 2007, 53 cholera cases were discovered.
Related stories
8 Nov 2007 - Iraq - Cholera - WHO Report
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO report [edited]
New laboratory-confirmed cholera cases reported during 5-8 Nov 2007: - Kirkuk: 8 (of 108 samples tested) 7 percent - Sulaymaniyah: not reported - Erbil: 2 (of 168 samples tested) one percent - Baghdad: 8 (number of samples tested not reported) Total new cases: 18 The most important development during weeks 44-45 is the steep increase in the number of cholera cases reported from Baghdad. The number of laboratory confirmed cases jumped from 11 to 32 cholera cases representing an increase of 290 percent in the cumulative cases. 44 percent of new confirmed cholera cases this week were reported from Baghdad Resafa; mainly from the highest risk areas in the 3 most disadvantaged districts in Baghdad (Sadder City, Me'dain and Resafa districts). Data provided from Baghdad is neither complete nor timely; therefore what is reported may be an underestimation of the real situation. As of 8 Nov 2007 (week 44), 44 districts, 28 in northern Iraq and 16 in the center and south have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera. In northern Iraq, 13 out of the 14 districts of Sulaymaniyah governorate, all 5 districts of Kirkuk governorate, 6 of 7 districts of Erbil governorate, and 4 districts in Dahuk. As for the center and south, the affected districts are: 3 districts each in Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul, and Diyala; 2 districts in Basra as well as one district in each of Wasit and Anbar.
15 Nov 2007 - Iraq - Cholera, orphanage (Baghdad)
PR Inside, Associated Press report [edited]
Iraq's Health Ministry said Thu 15 Nov 2007, 2 Iraqi boys have died from cholera in the Baghdad al-Hanan orphanage. He said 6 other children at the orphanage have been diagnosed with cholera and he blamed this week's cholera deaths on unclean water being stored in a tank on the facility's roof. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 30 000 people in Iraq have come down with acute watery diarrhea, which may later be confirmed as cholera. The hardest-hit provinces are Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, both in northern Iraq.
22 Nov 2007 - Iraq - Cholera in Baghdad
Reuters [edited]
Iraq is facing a health catastrophe in the capital Baghdad, with reports of cholera rising sharply over the past weeks to more than 80 new cases, the Health Ministry said on Thu 22 Nov 2007. Most of the new cases have been reported in the eastern part of Baghdad, especially in poor areas routinely deprived of water and other basic services, an official at the ministry said. One cholera death was recorded in November [2007], in addition to another death in September [2007], said the official.In western Baghdad, 6 people at a government home for the disabled were confirmed to have the disease, she said. Another girl at an Institute for the Severely Disabled died from the disease. The Health Ministry official blamed a lack of proper sanitation for the cholera cases at the institute. The official said that 6 governmental hospitals suffer from unsafe water supplies, including Yarmouk, one of Baghdad's chief hospitals.
28 Nov 2007 - Iraq – Cholera in Baghdad
International Herald Tribune [edited]
The UN raised new concern Wednesday [28 Nov 2007] about a possible cholera outbreak in Baghdad ahead of the rainy season, saying the capital accounts for 79 percent of all new cases despite a national decline. The UN Children's Fund said 101 cases had been recorded in the capital, most in the past 3 weeks, making it the source of 79 percent of all new cases. It said no single source for the outbreak had been identified, but the main Shiite enclave of Sadr City was among the areas hardest hit.The outbreak has now spread to half of the country's 18 provinces, UNICEF estimating that only one in 3 Iraqi children can rely on a safe water source, particularly in Baghdad and southern cities.

Yemen - Possible cholera (Hodeidah, Hajja)
3 Nov 2007
News Yemen [edited]
Since the beginning of October 2007, 30 people have in Azzahrah, Luhaih, Qanawes, and Zaidia districts of Hodeidah province and in Meidi, Mostaba, Khairan al-Mahraq, Haradh, and Abs of Hajja due to diarrhea sources thought to be cholera. People in the districts said the cases of "fatal diarrhea" are increasing and that infected people die after 24 hours.

October 2007

Jordan - Food poisoning scare hits
27 Oct 2007
Jordan Times/Independent Online [edited]
The head of Jerash south of the capital, adding. According to this official,Salmonella was probably the cause of the poisoning of 206 people who were taken to hospital on Friday, but investigations were still under way. By Saturday evening, an official toll estimated the number of people suffering from the symptoms at around 300, all from Sakeb village in the northern Jerash Governorate. However, some village residents said they believed the number to be much higher. Others also said they suspected contaminated water was the reason for the outbreak, not hummus sold at a nearby restaurant as first believed by the authorities.
Other source: Agence France-Presse (AFP); ChinaView, Xinhua News Agency report

Saudi Arabia - Suspected food poisoning: Three Indian children die in Qunfuda
23 Oct 2007
Arab News- K.S. Ramkumar & Hasan Hatrash [edited]
According to this story, three Indian children died in Qunfuda between Saturday and Sunday from what is thought to be food poisoning. The head of press relations at Qunfuda Health Department was cited as saying that the cause of death was more likely to be related to some sort of food poisoning. Samples of the food that was consumed on Saturday night by the family, including the parents, were sent to laboratories in Jeddah and Makkah to determine if the food was contaminated.

Yemen - Diarrhea – Hodeidah
21 Oct 2007
News Yemen [edited]
Tens of people in the districts of al-Dhoha, al-Zaidia, al-Qanawis, al-Zahra, and al-Lohaiya of Hodeidah have been plagued with diarrhea, but no deaths registered by the districts public health offices, a medical source said. According to a local source, the reason of diarrhea refers to [perhaps - Mod.¨Promed] changes in the digestive system as the time of meals changed after the holy month of fasting, Ramadan. The source did not offer definite number of plagued people in infected areas, but said that field teams have visited the affected areas, which have diarrhea infections every year, according to the source.

Israel - The Knesset's two cafeterias have been closed due to Listeria bacteria
18 Oct 2007
The Jerusalem Post - Judy Siegel-Itzkovich [edited]
The Knesset's two cafeterias - for MKS and for the general public - have, according to this story, been closed by the Health Ministry after routine tests in the kitchen were found infected with Listeria bacteria. After the lab tests confirmed the presence of Listeria, the report was sent to the ministry, which ordered the closing of the kitchen and cafeterias and suitable cleaning and disinfection. The ministry will continue to follow the situation and decide when to allow its reopening.

Syria/Iran border (refugee camp) - Cholera, possible
7 Oct 2007
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) [edited]
Despite the efforts of the Iraqi government and WHO to contain a recent cholera outbreak, the disease has already spread to half of the country and has also crossed the border into Iran, according to WHO and Iranian authorities. Refugee camps on Iraq's borders and inside Iran, Syria, and Jordan have been warned of the outbreak by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Iran - Cholera
4 Oct 2007
Reuters Foundation AlertNet [edited]
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cholera has jumped the border from Iraq to Iran, highlighting the need for neighboring countries to boost their defenses against the deadly disease. Cholera has struck at least 3315 people in Iraq since mid-August 2007, killing at least 15. WHO global cholera coordinator said that up to 10 cases have also been confirmed in Iran, near the Iraqi border.
Related stories
6 Oct 2007 - Iran - Cholera
Reuters [edited]
According to an Iranian news agency, Iran, on Sat 6 Oct 2007, had 43 cholera cases, 4 times more than previously announced, and these cases were mostly near Iraq. A World Health Organization (WHO) official said that 10 cases had been confirmed in Iran.

Iraq - Cholera - (Kirkuk)
1 Oct 2007
Reuters UK [edited]
According to this story, more than 500 new cases of cholera have been confirmed since Thu 27 Sep 2007, in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, bringing the total number across the country to more than 3000. A total of 15 people have died from the disease. Kirkuk province, with 2197 cases and 2 deaths, has been the epicenter of the outbreak. In neighboring Sulaymaniyah, 11 people have died and 771 cases have been recorded. In Erbil province there have been 113 cases, the health ministry spokesperson said.
Related stories
1 Oct 2007 - Iraq - Cholera - WHO situation report
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO report [edited] -
Baghdad and Basra: Despite the rigorous epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory scrutiny no secondary cholera confirmed cases werereported from Baghdad and Basra following the 2 cases reported 12 days ago. - Dahuk: On 23 Sept 2007, Dahuk health authority reported the 1st laboratory confirmed _Vibrio cholerae_ in a 5-year-old female child from Bardarash district in Dahuk governorate. It is important to note that the 1st index case for the 1999 outbreak (over 900 cases) started in the same area, which the WHO requested to visit during the last mission to north Iraq; however, the request was denied. The case was detected during the routine testing of cases presenting to health facilities with watery diarrhea. Further investigation of contacts and water supply was negative for the V. cholerae organism. - Diala: During the 15-30 Sept 2007 period, reports of a new focus of acute watery diarrhoea in Diala province were received, which is south of the original [foci] in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk. In this new focus, 31 patients presented to Baladruz, Salah ad Din, Hibhib, Al-Udhem, and Baquba hospitals with severe dehydrating diarrhea with renal failure in one of them. Unfortunately, specimen collection was done late after patient had antibiotics in the majority of cases. The results of 22 cases tested negative to V. cholerae while 9 are still pending. Negative isolates have been sent to the Central Lab in Baghdad for further testing. Despite the difficult security situation the DoH (Department of Health) surveillance staff were able to visit affected areas, supply them with fresh CB (Cary-Blair) transport medium, and train them on the correct method of collection and shipping of samples. - Tikrit: During 11-29 Sept 2007, 1617 diarrhea cases were reported; 1143 stool specimens collected, 8 of them were positive for V. cholerae, 4 were symptomatic, and 4 were healthy carriers. - Wasit: A cholera case was confirmed in Wasit on 25 Sept 2007.
3 Oct 2007 - Iraq - Cholera - WHO report
World Health Organization (WHO) Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) disease outbreak news [edited]
Since the cholera outbreak was 1st detected in Kirkuk, Northern Iraq, on 14 Aug 2007, it has spread to 9 out of 18 provinces across Iraq. It is estimated that more than 30 000 people have fallen ill with acute watery diarrhea, among which 3315 were identified as positive for Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium causing the disease. A total of 14 people are known to have died of the disease. The case-fatality rate has remained low throughout the outbreak indicating that those who have become sick have been able to access adequate treatment on time. The disease is continuing to spread across Iraq and dissemination to as yet unaffected areas remains highly possible. Epidemiological curves are still rising in the provinces from which the majority of laboratory-confirmed cases have originated, Kirkuk (2309) and Sulaymaniyah (870). An increasing number of cases of acute watery diarrhea has also been reported in Diala, a province neighboring Baghdad. Although V. cholerae has not yet been laboratory confirmed, the clinical symptoms indicate the presence of cholera. The numbers of cases are remaining stable in Basra, Baghdad, Dahuk, Mosul, and Tikrit. However, a case has now been confirmed in Wasit, a province that has previously been unaffected by the outbreak. The Government of Iraq has mobilized a multi-sectoral response to the outbreak. Specific control measures have been reinforced and preventive measures to reduce the risk of transmission to unaffected areas have been put in place. However, the overall quality of water and sanitation is very poor, a factor known to greatly facilitate cholera contamination. WHO is in the process of procuring 5 million water-treatment tablets and 2 international WHO epidemiologists are being deployed to support the Ministry of Health in Iraq. WHO does not recommend any restrictions to travel or trade to or from affected areas as a means to control the spread of cholera. However, neighboring countries are encouraged to reinforce their 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 and the time required to reach protective efficacy, high cost and the heavy logistics associated with its use. The use of the parenteral cholera vaccine has never been recommended by WHO due to its low protective efficacy and the high occurrence of severe adverse reactions.
6 Oct 2007 - Iraq - Cholera WHO situation report
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO [edited]
New developments Baghdad: the total number of laboratory confirmed cholera cases jumped to 4 including one death. The 4 cases were reported from Al-Madain district in Baghdad Resafa. A team from CDC (Centers for Disease Control)/Baghdad;Baghdad-Resafa DoH (Department of Health) and WHO visited the 2 hospitals in Madain districts and came to the conclusion that much needs to be done in terms of surveillance and environmental sanitation. Basra: a 2nd cholera case was confirmed on 4 Oct 2007, bringing the number of cholera cases to 2 from 2 different districts. Dahuk: on 23 Sep 2007, Dahuk health authority reported the 1st laboratory confirmed cholera in a 5 year old girl from Bardarash district in Dahuk governorate. It is important to note that the 1st index case for 1999 outbreak (over 900 cases) started in the same area, which WHO requested to visit during its last mission to north Iraq, however, the request was denied. The case was detected during the routine testing of cases presenting to health facilities with watery diarrhea. Further investigation of contacts and water supply was negative for V. cholerae organism. Diala: on 4 Oct 2007, the Ministry of Health reported 2 laboratory confirmed cholera cases, both adults, from 2 different districts (Baquba and Khalis districts). Both were admitted to Baquba general hospital suffering from acute watery diarrhea and extreme dehydration. During the period (15 Sep to 4 Oct 2007); 44 suspected cholera cases were reported from Baladruz, Salah ad Din, Hibhib, Al-Udhem, and Baquba hospitals and PHCs (primary health care centers) suffering from extreme dehydration; one had renal failure. Since the remaining 42 cases were clinically diagnosed as cholera and epidemiologically linked (in time and place to the confirmed cases) then these 42 cases can safely be classified on epidemiological and clinical basis as confirmed cholera cases; brining the total cholera cases in this province to 44. Tikrit: during the period 11 Sept to 3 Oct 2007, 2012 diarrhea cases were reported; 1408 stool specimens collected, 8 of them were positive for O1 _Vibrio cholerae_, 5 were for cases, and 3 for healthy carriers. Wasit: one cholera case was confirmed in Wasit on 25 Sept 2007.
9 Oct 2007 - Iraq - Cholera - WHO situation report
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO [edited]
As of 7 Oct 2007, 25 districts of Northern Iraq and 14 districts in the south and center have reported laboratory confirmed cases of cholera. In north Iraq: 13 out of the 14 districts of Sulaymaniyah governorate, all 5 districts of Kirkuk governorate, 6 out of the 7 districts of Erbil governorate, one district in Dahuk. As for the center and south, the affected districts are: 3 districts in each of Tikrit, Mosul, and Diala, 2 districts in Basra as well as one district in each of Wasit, Baghdad, and Anbar. 96 per cent of Iraq's cholera cases were reported from Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk in north Iraq, the outbreak seems to be slowly spreading to the neighboring provinces of Erbil and Diala with 147 laboratory confirmed cases in Erbil and 44 cases from Diala (3 laboratory confirmed and the remaining 41 diagnosed on clinical and epidemiological grounds). Sporadic cases with definite history of travel and food consumption in Kirkuk were reported from Tikrit provinces; however, isolated cases with no epidemiological link to north Iraq were also confirmed in Mosul, Wasit, Baghdad, Anbar and Basra. One of the important features in this outbreak is that most of the cases seen have mild to moderate signs and symptoms. The traditional signs and symptoms of severe dehydrating diarrhea were seen only very occasionally. Specific control measures to contain this ongoing outbreak and limit its spread to other areas have been reinforced by the concerned governmental departments of the affected provinces with technical support from WHO.
16 Oct 2007 - Iraq – Cholera
Relief Web [edited]
Map of cholera cases in Iraq through 6 October 2007
28 Oct 2007 - Iraq - Cholera WHO update
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO report [edited]
New laboratory confirmed cholera cases reported during 22-28 Oct 2007 - Kirkuk: 28 (of 479 samples tested) 6 per cent - Sulaymaniyah: 39 (of 660 samples tested) 6 per cent - Erbil: 24 (of 487 samples tested) 5 per cent As of 28 Oct 2007 (week 43), 28 districts of Northern Iraq and 16 districts in the south and center have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera. In northern Iraq, 13 out of the 14 districts of Sulaymaniyah governorate, all 5 districts of Kirkuk governorate, 6 of 7 districts of Erbil governorate, and 4 districts in Dahuk. As for the center and south; the affected districts are: 3 districts in each of Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul, and Diyala; 2 districts in Basra as well as one district in each of Wasit and Anbar. 99 per cent of Iraq's cholera cases were reported from Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Erbil, northern Iraq. Sporadic cases with definite history of travel and food consumption in Kirkuk were reported from Tikrit province; however, isolated cases with no epidemiological link to northern Iraq were also confirmed in Mosul, Wasit, Baghdad, Anbar, and Basra. One of the important features in this outbreak is that most of the cases seen have mild to moderate signs and symptoms. The traditional signs and symptoms of severe dehydrating diarrhoea were seen only very occasionally, out of the 4467 laboratory-confirmed cholera cases; 22 deaths were reported, most of the deceased had other serious underlying morbidity. Specific control measures to contain this ongoing outbreak and limit its spread to other areas have been reinforced by the concerned governmental departments of the affected provinces, with technical support from WHO. In non-epidemic provinces, during the period 14 Aug-28 Oct 2007, 36 cholera cases were discovered.
30 Oct 2007 -Iraq – Cholera
Reuters[edited]
According to this story, the health ministry said on Tue 30 Oct 2007 that the spread of cholera in Iraq is slowing thanks to health measures taken to curb an outbreak of the disease. Cholera has killed 22 people since an outbreak in the northern province of Kirkuk in August 2007 and there have been 4444 confirmed cases, almost exclusively in northern regions. With 2968 cases and 5 deaths, Kirkuk province has been the epicenter of the outbreak. In neighboring Sulaymaniyah, 14 people have died and 1217 cases have been recorded. In nearby Arbil province there have been 224 cases, the health ministry spokeswoman said.
31 Oct 2007 -Iraq - Cholera - WHO update
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb, WHO report [edited]
New laboratory confirmed cholera cases reported during 29-31 Oct 2007 (3 days): - Kirkuk: 7 (of 122 samples tested) 6 per cent - Sulaymaniyah: 1 (number of samples tested not yet reported) - Erbil: 2 (of 184 samples tested) one per cent - Ninawa: 0 (of 396 samples tested) 0 per cent As of 31 Oct 2007 (week 44), 45 districts, 28 in northern Iraq and 17 in the center and south have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera. In northern Iraq, 13 out of the 14 districts of Sulaymaniyah governorate,all 5 districts of Kirkuk governorate, 6 of 7 districts of Erbil governorate, and 4 districts in Dahuk. As for the centre and South; the affected districts are: 4 districts in Baghdad, and 3 districts each of Tikrit, Mosul, and Diyala; 2 districts in Basra as well as one district in each of Wasit and Anbar. 99 per cent of Iraq's cholera cases were reported from Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, and Erbil, northern Iraq. Sporadic cases with definite history of travel and food consumption in Kirkuk were reported from Tikrit province; however, isolated cases with no epidemiological link to northern Iraq were also confirmed in Mosul, Wasit, Baghdad, Anbar, and Basra. One of the important features in this outbreak is that most of the cases seen have mild to moderate signs and symptoms. The traditional signs and symptoms of severe dehydrating diarrhea were seen only very occasionally, out of the 4479 laboratory-confirmed cholera cases; 22 deaths were reported, most of the deceased had other, serious underlying morbidity.

September 2007

Saudi Arabia - Doctors blame street food for surge in Ramadan illnesses
26 Sept 2007
Arab News - Sarah Abdullah [edited]
A family practitioner at the New Jeddah Clinic Hospital, was quoted as telling that since Ramadan began there have been a noticeable amount of cases of gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining, as well as some extreme cases due to eating unhygienic food. In recent months officials in Madinah and Makkah have been cracking down on unsanitary and usually illegal food operations. Madinah officials recently closed down a restaurant after 23 diners fell ill from consuming Salmonella-tainted food, which was linked by investigators to the fingernails of a worker at the restaurant. Makkah officials also recently shut down a warehouse full of rotten fish and meat in efforts to combat food-borne illnesses. According to statistics from Cure Research, an independent research organization, Saudi Arabia had reported 132,773 cases of food poisoning in 2005 with the actual number likely to be much higher.

Iraq - Cholera
20 Sept 2007
The New York Times [edited]
According to this story, Iraqi health officials confirmed the 1st cases of cholera in Baghdad today, 20 Sept 2007, in a sign that an epidemic that has infected about 7000 people in northern Iraq is spreading south through the country's water system.
Related stories
30 Sept 2007 Iraq - Cholera – Anbar
Uruknet, Voices of Iraq report [edited]
A death from cholera was disclosed on Sun 30 Sept 2007, by health authorities in the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

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