Iraq reveals 19 Congo fever deaths in 2025
A total of 123 cases have been recorded nationwide, health ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr said in a statement, adding that 36 of them were reported in the poor southern province of Dhi Qar, which is heavily dependent on livestock farming.
Congo fever is a viral disease which is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during or immediately after slaughter, according to the World Health Organization.
It has a fatality rate of between 10 and 40 percent, and most cases have been reported in the livestock industry.
A previous surge in infections in Iraq in 2022 saw at least 27 deaths, compared with just six cases for the two decades from 1989 to 2009.
The WHO attributed that flare-up to a rise in the tick population resulting from the failure to carry out pesticide spraying campaigns in 2020 and 2021.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
CCHF: New fatality confirmed in Iraq's Dhi Qar
Shafaq News – Dhi Qar On Wednesday, health authorities in Iraq's Dhi Qar province reported the third fatality from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) this year. A veterinary source told Shafaq News that a 60-year-old man from Al-Dawayah district succumbed to the virus earlier in the day.
Shafaq News
7 days ago
- Shafaq News
Basra's red river: A dire pollution alarm
Shafaq News- Basra A deepening environmental crisis is gripping Iraq's Basra province, where parts of the Euphrates River have recently turned red due to a toxic algae bloom—an alarming indicator of accelerating pollution. Pollution on All Fronts Basra, Iraq's oil capital, is also its environmental epicenter. Years of industrial mismanagement, failing infrastructure, and climate pressure have made its air and water increasingly hazardous. Gas flaring, banned near homes, continues in areas like Aradah and Al-Zubair, exposing families to carcinogens such as benzene, sulfur dioxide, and PAHs. A 2024 University of Basra study found air quality near the Rumaila oil field exceeds both Iraqi and World Health Organization safety limits. Power plants, vehicle emissions, brick kilns, and diesel generators further pollute the atmosphere, while climate change intensifies dust storms and desertification, pushing particulate levels even higher. Health impacts also rose sharply. Ministry of Health data show a 20% increase in cancer cases between 2015 and 2018. Residents near oil sites report higher rates of leukemia and chronic respiratory illness—especially among children. A Dying River Basra's water crisis is equally urgent. Once nourished by the Tigris and Euphrates, the Shatt al-Arab now suffers from chemical pollution, seawater intrusion, and dwindling flow due to damming upstream in Turkiye and Iran. Infrastructure failures deepen the problem. Only about 20% of Basra's wastewater is treated—leaving most to flow directly into rivers. The Hamdan treatment plant, for instance, operates far below capacity. Meanwhile, rising salinity from the Gulf has rendered river water unfit for drinking or irrigation. In 2018, over 100,000 people were hospitalized during a waterborne disease outbreak. Today, many families rely on costly water tankers, while disadvantaged communities struggle daily for access to safe water. Toxic Waters, Public Fury Speaking to Shafaq News, Osama Al-Saad, Deputy Chairman of the Basra Provincial Council, attributed the recent red river incident to 'algae nourished by wastewater pooling in low-lying areas.' Initial tests traced the contamination to sewage discharged from Al-Zubair and Al-Madina districts. 'Service departments, civil defense teams, and the Ministry of Oil had been deployed to contain the spread,' Al-Saad confirmed, though he acknowledged the response was temporary. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the only sustainable solution is to implement wastewater recycling in the affected area. The incident reignited ongoing protests in northern Basra, where residents accused oil companies and local officials of chronic environmental negligence. Demonstrators also cited worsening health conditions and warned of escalating action if no solution is found. Recently, community leaders issued an urgent appeal for federal and provincial intervention, calling for the creation of a crisis task force. Political Fault Lines The algae bloom has also exposed political tensions. Rafid Abdul Amir, Qaimaqam (district administrator) of Al-Sadiq, called it a serious escalation of long-standing pollution, blaming neighboring areas. 'Emergency measures, including floating pumps and clean-up operations with the Ministry of Oil, are ongoing,' he added. However, Rafid Al-Shawi, Qaimaqam of Al-Madina, dismissed the allegations, arguing that if Al-Madina were responsible, it would have seen the effects first. He pointed to a large-scale pipeline project redirecting sewage away from populated zones, and a 139 billion dinars (approximately $98 million) treatment facility now under construction. Al-Shawi confirmed the algae patch briefly reached Al-Madina, forcing a temporary shutdown of the Al-Alwan water plant, before drifting back toward Al-Sadiq. 'Only a united effort can produce lasting solutions,' he told our agency.
Shafaq News
04-07-2025
- Shafaq News
Gaza: 27 killed in Israeli strikes as humanitarian agencies renew urgent appeals
Israeli airstrikes killed 27 Palestinians in Gaza on Friday, including five people waiting for humanitarian aid in northern Rafah, according to Palestinian medical sources. Israeli warplanes launched heavy strikes on several neighborhoods in Gaza City, including Al-Tuffah and Al-Zaytoun. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reiterated that there is "no safe place" for civilians in Gaza. In a statement, the agency warned that residents are running out of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel, calling for 'a deal that will allow in a flow of basic supplies.' 'Hunger is now so severe that people are fainting in the streets,' the agency said, describing the current aid distribution system as one that has "stripped frightened, injured, and exhausted families of their dignity." ' #Gaza: no fuel allowed into the enclave for more than 4 months fuel, waste is piling up, clean water running out, clinics shutting down, electricity and telecoms is deepening the immense suffering of 2 million people who continue to endure… — UNRWA (@UNRWA) July 4, 2025 The World Health Organization (WHO) separately called for the protection of both major and field hospitals in the besieged enclave, reporting that many surgeries have been suspended due to fuel shortages and a lack of medical supplies. WHO also stressed the urgent need to evacuate more than 300 critically ill Palestinians who require medical treatment abroad. Since October 7, 2023, the death toll raised to 57157, with more than 135,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.
