AANES reveals outcome of cholera infections in NE Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Health Board of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) revealed on Wednesday the outcome of cholera infections in northeast Syria in a press conference held in the city of Qamishli.
Jwan Mustafa, Co-chair of the Health Board said there are 2.867 suspected cases and 78 confirmed ones of cholera.
He added that 16 deaths of the pandemic have been recorded up to date.
Mustafa pointed out that the pandemic spread in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor where the first case of the pandemic was verified by germ culture recorded last month in addition to Raqqa, Tabqa and Hasakah.
Cases verified by germ culture are “43 cases in the west of Deir ez-Zor, 4 in Tabqa, 16 in Raqqa and 15 in Hasakah,” according to the statement.
Mustafa said the suspected cases are dealt with as cholera ones due to symptoms, but they are not verified by germ culture.
Earlier, the AANES announced deaths and infections of cholera in its areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned of the dangers of rapid spreading of the pandemic.
Ten deaths were recorded in Deir ez-Zor, two in Raqqa, two in Shahba region (Aleppo northern countryside) and two in Jazira Region (Hasakah and Qamishli).
Regarding the transmission of the disease by water, Mustafa said, analyses confirmed the presence of “cholera vibrio” in the Euphrates River as a result of water reduction and the swamps created. Besides, vegetables are sown at the banks of the river. Farmers depend on the river for irrigation.
Mustafa did not conceal his fears of the pandemic’s spread in the city of Hasakah which suffers from water crisis, as water is delivered by tankers it is “not sterilized.”
Mustafa called on people not to consume undrinkable water especially from Euphrates and to focus on personal hygiene and to use chlorine in all desalinations centers and sterilize vegetables and cook it well.
The cholera problem lies in the fact that the infected person could die within six hours of infection in case of no medication as “the body lose all fluids making all organs stop,” according to the statement.
Mustafa called on the international community to bear its responsibility and press the Turkish state to sustain from water reduction of the river and to press it allow Allouk station pump water, and to provide support to those working on the ground especially those concerned with water sterilization.
Responding to a North Press question, Mustafa said they contact the WHO since the first day when the pandemic was recorded. The WHO pledged to deliver aid but due to some technical deficiencies that have been delayed, they have to wait.
Mustafa indicated that in case the disease spreads and turns into a pandemic, the Health Board alone has no capabilities to cope with cholera, so the focus is on precautionary measures.