Water contamination and diseases | Man dies of cholera and over 50 suspected cases in Deir Ezzor

Deir Ezzor province: A cholera patient died in a hospital in SDF-controlled areas in Deir Ezzor countryside and symptoms of the disease appeared on more than 50 people at Al-Kasrah hospital in western Deir Ezzor countryside, according to medical sources.

According to the sources, the majority of the affected cases are from the villages of the western countryside of Deir Ezzor, such as the villages of Al-Harmushiyeh, Hawaej Bumosaa’, Al-Kasrah and Al-Zughayr.

The symptoms began to appear on September 6 and have been confirmed through laboratory tests and sampling.

The results of laboratory tests showed that the disease was caused by water contamination, as there was no water sterilization at all Deir Ezzor stations.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.