BAGHDAD — Iraq, which is already facing a prolonged battle against the Islamic State and large protests against government corruption and inefficiency, is now struggling with a new challenge: a growing cholera outbreak.
As of Tuesday, at least 54 cases have been confirmed in Baghdad, as well as in the southern provinces of Najaf, Diwaniyah, Babil and Samawah, Health Ministry spokesman Rifaq al-Araji said. At least 20 cholera cases were confirmed in the city of Abu Ghraib alone, which lies on the border between Baghdad province and Anbar province — much of which is under the control of the Islamic State. Four women were reported to have died in Abu Ghraib, but al-Araji said authorities have not yet confirmed if the deaths were cholera-related.
The cause lies partially with Iraq’s antiquated and badly maintained water and sewage systems, and the outbreak comes at a time when Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s government is already struggling with large demonstrations protesting the government’s inability to provide security or basic public services.
In a bid to contain anger, al-Abadi has ordered emergency measures, particularly in the Abu Ghraib area. These include daily water-quality tests, distributing bottled water to families displaced from their homes and setting up more water-purification stations.