Around 95 cases of VHFs were recorded in Iraq
The Ministry of Health announced new official statistics on hemorrhagic fever - VHF cases and deaths on Tuesday in Iraq.
"The latest statistics issued by the Ministry's Public Health Department showed that 95 cases of VHFs have been recorded since the beginning of the year, including 13 deaths. The last week saw no deaths, but only infections," said the Ministry's official spokesperson, Saif Al-Badr, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
He explained that "all cases were recorded among livestock breeders, butchers, and those working in the field of raising, transporting, and slaughtering animals."
The Ministry recommended purchasing meat only from authorized slaughterhouses, storing meat at very low temperatures, and cooking it at very high temperatures, with special tools for cutting it, calling for "referring to the nearest healthcare facility when the initial symptoms of the disease appear, which include high fever, fatigue, and physical pain."
"If the diagnosis of the disease is delayed until bleeding from body orifices or under the skin, the likelihood of complications and death increases. Early detection has previously contributed to saving dozens of cases," highlighted Al-Badr.
He emphasized that "all Ministry of Health institutions in Baghdad, the governorates, and the Kurdistan Region are equipped to diagnose VHFs through specialized laboratories. There are also isolation wards designated for those infected or suspected of being infected until the diagnosis is confirmed."
The Ministry of Health circulated awareness messages through the media, including posters and short, animated awareness videos.
Al-Badr asserted that "the epidemiological situation is under control, and the disease is being monitored daily by the Minister of Health, the Public Health Department, and technical teams."
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Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Iraqi News
Around 95 cases of VHFs were recorded in Iraq
The Ministry of Health announced new official statistics on hemorrhagic fever - VHF cases and deaths on Tuesday in Iraq. "The latest statistics issued by the Ministry's Public Health Department showed that 95 cases of VHFs have been recorded since the beginning of the year, including 13 deaths. The last week saw no deaths, but only infections," said the Ministry's official spokesperson, Saif Al-Badr, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA. He explained that "all cases were recorded among livestock breeders, butchers, and those working in the field of raising, transporting, and slaughtering animals." The Ministry recommended purchasing meat only from authorized slaughterhouses, storing meat at very low temperatures, and cooking it at very high temperatures, with special tools for cutting it, calling for "referring to the nearest healthcare facility when the initial symptoms of the disease appear, which include high fever, fatigue, and physical pain." "If the diagnosis of the disease is delayed until bleeding from body orifices or under the skin, the likelihood of complications and death increases. Early detection has previously contributed to saving dozens of cases," highlighted Al-Badr. He emphasized that "all Ministry of Health institutions in Baghdad, the governorates, and the Kurdistan Region are equipped to diagnose VHFs through specialized laboratories. There are also isolation wards designated for those infected or suspected of being infected until the diagnosis is confirmed." The Ministry of Health circulated awareness messages through the media, including posters and short, animated awareness videos. Al-Badr asserted that "the epidemiological situation is under control, and the disease is being monitored daily by the Minister of Health, the Public Health Department, and technical teams."
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Shafaq News
Al-Anbar's artisan: The pharmacist who paints souls
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He believes artistic identity doesn't come from degrees or titles. 'True art begins when a person opens themselves to the world with honesty. You don't need a certificate for that — you need heart.' Much of his journey unfolded in solitude. He learned through trial, error, and persistence. He read extensively, experimented tirelessly, and created instinctively. 'An instinctive artist speaks from within. That's why the work resonates. It's real.' Still, challenges remain. Exhibition spaces are scarce. Support is minimal. Even in the cultural centers of Ramadi and Fallujah, art often takes a backseat to politics and survival. But towns like Hit and Haditha offer glimmers of hope, where history and heritage have nurtured deeper appreciation. Over the decades, al-Alousi left his mark in unexpected places — presidential residences, private villas, once-bustling restaurants, and the now-absent Ramadi cinema. 'I wanted to bring beauty into ordinary places, to remind people that their daily lives deserve it.' Mastering Two Worlds Today, al-Alousi continues his delicate balance — pharmacist by trade, artist by devotion. He prepares for two upcoming exhibitions, each a reflection of decades spent capturing the quiet grace of everyday life. 'I spend my evenings surrounded by buckets of paint and fragments of wood, chasing feelings I can't always name.' Even in rest, he finds inspiration along the river while fishing, during solitary walks, or through the lens of his camera. His eyes are always open to moments others might pass by. He believes in this generation's potential — the technology, the access, the speed — but wonders if they sometimes lose sight of purpose. 'Tools are powerful,' he offered, 'but it's the reason behind the work that gives it life.' To the young artists of Iraq, his message is soft but steady. 'Let art guide your discipline. Let it lift your spirit. 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