The Iraqi Ministry of Health announced today, Friday, that 39 confirmed cases of hemorrhagic fever and 5 deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the year.
Ministry spokesperson Saif Al-Badr stated, "Since the start of this year, we have registered 39 confirmed cases of hemorrhagic fever, along with 5 deaths." He clarified that "the cases and deaths are distributed as follows: Dhi Qar has 12 cases and 2 deaths, Nineveh has 6 cases and 1 death, and in Wasit there are 5 cases, while Baghdad Al-Karkh reports 4 cases." He added, "In Babil, there are 4 cases and 1 death, in Maysan there are 3 confirmed cases, in Baghdad Al-Rusafa there are 2 cases and 1 death, and in Kirkuk, Najaf, and Al-Muthanna, there is 1 case each."
He pointed out that "no cases or deaths have been reported in the provinces of Basra, Karbala, Diyala, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Duhok, or Diwaniyah." Al-Badr confirmed that "the Ministry of Health has provided all necessary diagnostic supplies and isolation wards for suspected cases."
He emphasized the importance of early recognition of symptoms and seeking health care for early diagnosis, which in its initial stages includes fever, elevated temperatures, and pain in various body areas. He noted that "the main cause of the disease is the random herding of animals as infected animals can transmit the disease to humans, and there are joint efforts to contain this disease in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agencies."
