Contaminated water blamed for illness outbreak in Sulaymaniyah’s Sharazur district

SULAYMANIYAH – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Health has identified contaminated drinking water and inadequate chlorination as the causes of a widespread illness outbreak in Sharazur district, Sulaymaniyah. Over 2,200 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting have been reported, according to the ministry.

Kurdistan Health Minister Saman Barznji said at a press conference, “After forming special field investigation teams, we determined that the illness outbreak in Sharazur was due to the mixing of surface and household wastewaters with the primary drinking water source from the Tanjero River. Recent heavy rainfall caused leaks and contamination in certain areas.”

Barznji also highlighted the reduced chlorine levels in the water supply, which compromised its safety. He urged residents to follow health guidelines to help address the issue and assured the public that all drinking water would be thoroughly disinfected. “We will soon release the full details of the investigations, including the type of bacteria found,” he said.

Sarkar Surchi, spokesperson for the Health Ministry, confirmed to 964media that “over 2,200 residents in Sharazur have experienced diarrhoea and vomiting.” However, he reassured the public, saying, “The number of cases has now significantly decreased.”

Surchi emphasized that none of the cases were life-threatening, adding, “The majority of cases were mild to moderate, with no severe cases reported.” He noted that most patients recovered quickly, with many discharged from medical facilities within one to two hours of treatment.

Barznji reiterated the importance of adhering to health precautions and assured residents that disinfection measures would be implemented to ensure the water’s safety. The Health Ministry plans to release further details on the outbreak as investigations conclude.