The World Health Organization (WHO) is increasing its support to the Iraqi Health Ministry after 21 new cases of cholera in the Babil region were confirmed, with another 100 more suspected cases of the waterborne disease. There were 4,696 reported cholera cases in Iraq last year with 24 deaths. Those cases were mostly confined to northern cities. “This year's outbreak is very different,” said Dr. Naeema Al-Gasser of WHO. “The majority of cases are now in rural areas where most people lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation,” she added. WHO along with UNICEF (The UN Children's Fund) has sent water tankers to affected areas as well as water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts. WHO is also working with the Iraqi Health Ministry to strengthen Iraq's disease surveillance system.
