One dead as hemorrhagic fever cases rise in Zubair district

BASRA — Seven cases of hemorrhagic fever have been reported over the past two months in Zubair district, Basra, including three in the past week, local officials said Thursday. One of the recent cases involved a woman who died from the infection.

Zubair Mayor Abbas Maher described the illness as “a concerning health issue” and said local authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Hemorrhagic fever is a viral disease commonly transmitted through contact with infected animals or meat, or through bites from infected ticks. It has become a recurring public health issue in Iraq, particularly in rural and agricultural regions where human-livestock interaction is frequent.

Munjid Al-Tamimi, director of Zubair’s veterinary department, cautioned against spreading inaccurate case numbers, warning that doing so could create public panic and undermine health and veterinary response efforts.

“It is essential to distinguish between suspected and lab-confirmed cases,” Al-Tamimi said. “Spreading unverified numbers weakens the preventive response being carried out in coordination with the local crisis cell.”

As of May 28, Iraq’s Ministry of Health had reported 95 cases of hemorrhagic fever across the country since the beginning of the year, including 13 deaths. The ministry said health facilities remain equipped to identify and treat new cases, and that the situation is under control.