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Cholera claims lives of 2 out of 7 in Fallujah, with 4 more cases in Karbala

BAGHDAD, Sept 13 (KUNA) -- Cholera has claimed the lives of two people in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, with another seven suffering from the disease and four more cases found in the city of Karbala, all of them children under the age of five, according to Iraqi medical sources on Saturday.
Director of Fallujah Hospital Dr. Ismail Al-Jamily in a statement to KUNA, said that the city recorded seven cases of the disease, all in the area of Zobaa, 5 km south of the city.
"Two of the patients died as a result of the disease," he said.
He denied the likelihood of further cases showing up, saying that measures to combat the disease had been taken with the necessary medical treatment provided.
A taskforce of water, environment and municipality officials from Fallujah has also been formed, in a bid aimed at preventing the contamination of the water supply, according to Dr. Al-Jamily.
Furthermore, Head of Karbala Health Board Dr. Alaa Bedair said that the city recorded four cholera cases all on children under the age of five.
Dr. Ihsan Jafar, spokesperson for the Iraqi Health Ministry, previously indicated that the numbers of cholera cases in Iraq rose to 68 so far, with five dead from the disease. (pickup previous) mhgh.sd KUNA 131505 Sep 08NNNN