Cholera Outbreak in Iraq

I understood that Iraq and Baghdad in particular were having issues with rebuilding their home because of the current conflict. What I didn’t realize was that sanitation was so bad that there have been cholera outbreaks which have subsequently led to two deaths. To me, cholera conjures up the idea of an epidemic in a historical sense. Because we know the pathogens and that this is a quite preventable disease reflects just how bad the situation in Iraq truly is.
The article explained how Jordan is weary of relations and trade with Iraq which could create stigmas and prejudice behaviors to Iraqi’s who are obviously in need of help from neighbors. In addition to seeking refuge in Jordan, Iraqi’s have also gone to Afghanistan and Pakistan that have been warned against the threat of a cholera epidemic.
I thought that this was a well constructed article because fingers are not being pointed towards particular political figures but rather the entire war. The article does however explain certain attitudes of health organization within Iraq and the World Health Organization and basically addresses that this is a major public health issue.
As American’s I think there is definitely the tendency to tune out when it comes to issues with Iraq because it is always present and there are so many gray areas that one becomes frustrated with the problem. However, I think that this article is worth a look so to speak, because as annoying or tedious as the war is, America has made a major footprint in the country. Cholera is only a precursor to greater health problems that the country is going to face if basic sanitation is not dealt with.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-cholera,1,2918568.story