Sulaimani province in the Kurdistan Region has been hit by a concerning outbreak of cholera, with authorities confirming 10 cases of the disease. This alarming development follows a wave of patients being hospitalized for symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

The outbreak has been officially verified through multiple sources, including testing at a public laboratory in Baghdad. Dr. Herish Sayid Salim, the Deputy Director General of the Sulaimani Health Department, confirmed the situation on Thursday. However, specific details regarding the number of individuals hospitalized due to the infection were not provided by Mr. Salim.

It's worth noting that last year, Sulaimani declared a health emergency in response to a cholera outbreak that saw 50 cases reported across the province. Local authorities initiated actions to combat the spread of the disease, including cracking down on the sale of unsafe drinking water and addressing vegetable fields irrigated with wastewater.

Cholera is a highly infectious disease that can prove fatal within a matter of hours if not promptly treated. The main cause of death in cholera cases is severe dehydration resulting from profuse diarrhea, which can lead to organ failure.

The health authorities in the Kurdistan Region have previously reported cholera cases in various provinces. To curb the disease's spread, several measures have been taken, including the prohibition of serving vegetables at restaurants and the destruction of fields where vegetables are cultivated using wastewater.

Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is typically transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated water and food. The implementation of adequate sanitation practices and the provision of safe drinking water are essential long-term solutions to prevent future outbreaks of this devastating disease.