Cholera outbreak confirmed in Sulaymaniyah with eight cases reported

SULAYMANIYAH – The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Saturday that eight cases of cholera have been reported in Sulaymaniyah, following testing conducted in Baghdad over the past two days.

Dr. Rahel Faraydun, a spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Ministry of Health, reported, “The test results have returned, confirming that all eight suspected cases are indeed cholera.” He noted that it is standard procedure to send samples to Baghdad for confirmation in suspected cholera cases.

This confirmation follows an announcement by Sabah Hawrami, director of Sulaymaniyah Health, on Aug. 22, stating that several patients had been hospitalized with symptoms suggestive of cholera. Hawrami has cautioned the public against using water sources restricted by local authorities and advised against consuming raw vegetables during this outbreak. He highlighted that most vegetables in the markets, being washed with untreated water, are unsafe.

In response, the mayor of Sulaymaniyah, Awat Mohammed, has ordered the closure of all water sources deemed unsafe following the report of eight cholera cases in the governorate. “All water sources that have not been confirmed as clean have been shut down immediately,” Mayor Mohammed told 964 Media, referencing the closure of several sites where contamination was detected. “These sources are unsuitable for consumption, and we will not take any risks when it comes to public safety.”

While Lake Dukan remains the primary source of drinking water, it does not reach all suburban neighborhoods. Consequently, many residents rely on large wells, which are legally approved by authorities, to purchase water delivered by trucks. These wells are regularly inspected to ensure the water is safe for consumption. However, some illegal wells, which are not monitored or tested by authorities, have been linked to contamination. These wells are intended solely for irrigation and other non-consumptive uses.

Mayor Mohammed also announced that all vegetables watered with contaminated water would be confiscated, and stricter regulations will be enforced in restaurants and cafés. Concerning a potential ban on serving vegetables in restaurants, he stated, “This matter will be decided by the Ministry of Health. Any decision made will be implemented by our committees.”

In a related development, the Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Safety issued health guidelines for cholera prevention, advising residents to clean and sanitize their water storage tanks at least once every six months. “It is necessary to regularly clean drinking water tanks, with a minimum cleaning frequency of once every six months,” the directorate emphasized in a statement released on Saturday.

Last year, Sulaymaniyah reported over 130 confirmed cases of cholera, with additional cases reported in Erbil.

Cholera, a highly contagious disease transmitted through contaminated food or water, can lead to severe acute watery diarrhea and be fatal within hours if untreated, according to the World Health Organization. Prevention and control measures include enhanced surveillance, improved water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, community engagement, appropriate treatment, and the use of oral cholera vaccines. WHO estimates that cholera affects between 1.3 million to 4 million people annually, resulting in 21,000 to 143,000 deaths worldwide.