"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [ظ‎‎٢‎٧‎١] (٨٦٢/٥٤٥)

PUBLIC HEALTH AND DISEASE
for the spread of infection. In December when the really cold weather
commences Bulinus disappears and is little evident in ditches until
the end of May. It is probable also that the emission of cercariae
ceases altogether in the winter months, although the infection may
survive in the snail. Thus the risk of infection from December to
May should be negligible and would explain why so few enthusiastic
duck and snipe shooters have become infected.
In 1939, 17,449 cases of schistosomiasis were treated in the medical
institutions of Iraq; 20 per cent, of these were in the Muntafiq
province, 19-4 per cent, in the province of Diwaniya, and 17-6 per
cent, in that of Basra. Only 6 cases were treated in the province of
Sulaimaniya, 12 in Kirkuk, 31 in Erbil, and 56 in Mosul.
Cholera
Iraq has been free from cholera since 1931, but its external com
munications and geographical situation make it vulnerable to infec
tion. Once infected it is a potentially dangerous distributing centre
for infection outside its borders, so that constant vigilance is required
by the Health Department.
Very little is known of the prevalence of cholera in Iraq before the
War of 1914-1918, but in 1916 cholera broke out in the Turkish force
operating east of Kut. When the British attacked and occupied the
Turkish position the troops became infected by drinking water from
a creek which had been contaminated by faecal matter. Nomadic
Arabs in touch with the flanks of both forces contracted and spread
the infection, though it was quickly controlled on the British side.
Altogether there were 2,852 cases among British troops in the Meso
potamian campaign.
During the inter-war period cholera was epidemic in only three
years: 1923, when 1,640 cases were notified; 1927 (i,479 cases); and
1931 (2,472 cases). No case was notified in the intervening years. All
cases occurred in the second half of the year, September being the
month of maximum incidence. Abadan was the source of infection in
1923, the disease spreading to Mohammerah and Basra, in spite of all
precautions. Subsequently cases occurred in all provinces south of
Baghdad. Fugitives from Abadan were responsible for outbreaks of
cholera in Iraqi towns along the Persian foothills, away from the
traffic routes of Iraq.
In a recent epidemiological survey of cholera in Iraq, Heggs (1938)
commented on the seven-years’ immunity from cholera that the
country had then enjoyed. Modern fast transport conditions have