Baby born with two faces dies shortly after birth in Erbil
UNAMI condemns 'attack' on Yazidi IDP Camp in Duhok, urges probe
Peshmerga unification enters final phase, set for completion by year-end: Advisor
Kurdistan parliament to enter summer recess despite political stalemate
Erbil emergency water project enters testing phase
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A baby born with two faces passed away just one hour after birth on Tuesday in Erbil, due to a rare and fatal congenital condition, according to medical officials at Newroz Hospital.
The baby, one of premature twins delivered at seven months of gestation, suffered from Diprosopus, a rare disorder in which parts or all of the face are duplicated on a single head. The second twin survived and remains in stable condition.
The 17-year-old mother and 20-year-old father, who are first cousins, were expecting twins but were unaware of any abnormalities prior to delivery.
'It was not known that the baby had two faces, it was just known that they were twins, that is all. We were planning on naming them Lan and Lina,' the father told Rudaw. He also mentioned his wife is the daughter of his uncle from the father's side.
According to the father, his wife experienced severe pain in her seventh month of pregnancy. As her condition worsened and posed risks to both her and the babies, doctors decided to proceed with an emergency C-section. 'One of the twins died, and thankfully, the other survived,' he added.
Dr. Ali Aswad, head of the neonatal intensive care unit at Newroz Hospital, confirmed that the infant with Diprosopus passed away approximately one hour after birth. A general surgery specialist reported that the mother is recovering well following the operation.
Diprosopus, also known as craniofacial duplication, is an exceptionally rare congenital condition, occurring in approximately 1 in 180,000 to 15 million live births, according to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The disorder results from abnormal activity of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) protein, which plays a vital role in facial development during early embryogenesis.
While Diprosopus can appear similar to conjoined twinning, it arises from errors in facial patterning rather than the incomplete separation of embryos. Most affected infants are stillborn or die shortly after birth due to associated anomalies, particularly involving the brain, heart, and lungs.
Though the couple are first cousins, experts stress that the overall risk of serious birth defects in children of cousin marriages remains relatively low - about 4 to 6 percent, compared to 2 to 3 percent in the general population. However, for extremely rare and severe conditions like Diprosopus, even a slight increase in genetic risk can have significant consequences.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
01-07-2025
- Rudaw Net
Baby born with two faces dies shortly after birth in Erbil
Also in Kurdistan UNAMI condemns 'attack' on Yazidi IDP Camp in Duhok, urges probe Peshmerga unification enters final phase, set for completion by year-end: Advisor Kurdistan parliament to enter summer recess despite political stalemate Erbil emergency water project enters testing phase A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A baby born with two faces passed away just one hour after birth on Tuesday in Erbil, due to a rare and fatal congenital condition, according to medical officials at Newroz Hospital. The baby, one of premature twins delivered at seven months of gestation, suffered from Diprosopus, a rare disorder in which parts or all of the face are duplicated on a single head. The second twin survived and remains in stable condition. The 17-year-old mother and 20-year-old father, who are first cousins, were expecting twins but were unaware of any abnormalities prior to delivery. 'It was not known that the baby had two faces, it was just known that they were twins, that is all. We were planning on naming them Lan and Lina,' the father told Rudaw. He also mentioned his wife is the daughter of his uncle from the father's side. According to the father, his wife experienced severe pain in her seventh month of pregnancy. As her condition worsened and posed risks to both her and the babies, doctors decided to proceed with an emergency C-section. 'One of the twins died, and thankfully, the other survived,' he added. Dr. Ali Aswad, head of the neonatal intensive care unit at Newroz Hospital, confirmed that the infant with Diprosopus passed away approximately one hour after birth. A general surgery specialist reported that the mother is recovering well following the operation. Diprosopus, also known as craniofacial duplication, is an exceptionally rare congenital condition, occurring in approximately 1 in 180,000 to 15 million live births, according to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The disorder results from abnormal activity of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) protein, which plays a vital role in facial development during early embryogenesis. While Diprosopus can appear similar to conjoined twinning, it arises from errors in facial patterning rather than the incomplete separation of embryos. Most affected infants are stillborn or die shortly after birth due to associated anomalies, particularly involving the brain, heart, and lungs. Though the couple are first cousins, experts stress that the overall risk of serious birth defects in children of cousin marriages remains relatively low - about 4 to 6 percent, compared to 2 to 3 percent in the general population. However, for extremely rare and severe conditions like Diprosopus, even a slight increase in genetic risk can have significant consequences.
Rudaw Net
30-06-2025
- Rudaw Net
Kurdistan Region confirms 7th case of Crimean-Congo fever
Also in Kurdistan First batch of PKK fighters to disarm soon: Sources Duhok potato farmer honored as first in Iraq Yazidi victim of ISIS atrocity reunited with family Kurdish farmer defies skeptics with successful ostrich farm A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - An Erbil man in his late forties has tested positive for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), marking the seventh confirmed case of the virus in the Kurdistan Region, the Region's health ministry reported on Sunday. In a statement, the health ministry said that the patient is 'a 47-year-old resident of Erbil city,' who works as a butcher and is involved in the buying, selling and slaughtering of livestock - activities that pose a high risk for exposure to the virus. The individual was hospitalized after exhibiting symptoms of CCHF, prompting a series of diagnostic tests and the initiation of medical treatment. He remains under medical supervision, and 'his condition is currently stable,' the ministry confirmed. Since the virus was first detected in the Kurdistan Region in April, seven cases have been officially confirmed through hospital visits and testing of suspected cases. 'Unfortunately, one case resulted in death due to the severity of the infection,' the health ministry noted, adding that the remaining patients have fully recovered and been discharged. CCHF is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through several channels, including bites from infected ticks, direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals, exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals, and consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock. As of early May, Iraq had recorded 53 confirmed cases and seven deaths nationwide, according to Riyadh al-Halfi, Director General of the Public Health Directorate at Iraq's federal health ministry. Preventive efforts remain ongoing across the Kurdistan Region, with authorities urging the use of protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and goggles - particularly for individuals working in close contact with animals. Veterinary hospitals have also intensified tick control campaigns since late April as part of broader containment measures.
Rudaw Net
04-06-2025
- Rudaw Net
New Crimean-Congo fever case reported in Ranya
A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A 29-year-old livestock farmer in northern Sulaimani province has tested positive for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever after exposure to infected animals, the Kurdistan Region's health ministry announced on Friday. 'Another case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was recorded, a 29-year-old male resident of Boskin sub-district in Ranya district in the Raparin administration, whose profession is livestock farming. He was exposed to infected animals,' read a statement from the ministry. 'He is currently hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and is receiving treatment. His health condition is stable so far,' the statement added. This is the fourth confirmed case of the fever in the Kurdistan Region this year. Two cases, one of them fatal, were recorded in Duhok province and one in Koya, along with one person originally from Basra who tested positive in Erbil. 'Over the past two months, only four cases have been identified and confirmed. Unfortunately, one of them lost their life due to the severity of their health condition, and the other cases have completely recovered and been discharged from the hospital,' the ministry said. The Crimean-Congo fever is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted to humans through multiple routes, including bites from infected ticks, contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals, exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals, and consumption of raw or undercooked meat from infected livestock. As of early May, Iraq reported 53 confirmed infections and seven deaths, the director general of the Public Health Directorate at the federal health ministry, Riyadh al-Halfi, told Rudaw at the time Preventive measures are ongoing. They include the use of protective gear, such as gloves, masks, and goggles, especially for those who work with animals or meat. Veterinary hospitals have also been conducting large-scale tick control campaigns since late April. The Iraqi government stated in April that it is 'exerting full efforts' to contain the outbreak, reassuring citizens that 'with proper measures in place, transmission to citizens will remain rare.' The ministry urged caution when handling meat, recommending the use of protective gloves and separate utensils for raw meat.
