The outbreak of water and foodborne diseases in Iran has turned into a serious crisis. According to new reports, these diseases have so far claimed the lives of 19 people, and 3,286 outbreaks have been recorded in 31 provinces of the country. Among them, the provinces of Kermanshah, Mazandaran, and Khuzestan have the highest number of outbreaks.
Concerning increase in infection cases
According to data collected from the infectious disease surveillance system, the number of recorded outbreaks has increased by about 13 percent compared to the same period last year. Specifically, in "rural and nomadic" areas and "urban or suburban areas," 46 and 54 percent of these outbreaks have been reported, respectively. Additionally, 93 outbreaks have been observed in congregate settings such as camps and dormitories.
The number of outbreaks in the provinces of Kermanshah, Mazandaran, and Khuzestan is 557, 267, and 238 cases, respectively. Meanwhile, the provinces of Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, and Fars are also experiencing an increase in cases with 214, 160, and 143 outbreaks.
Symptoms and causes of outbreaks
The total number of patients affected by these outbreaks has been reported as 14,726, with 1,109 of them requiring hospitalization. With a hospitalization rate of 5.7 percent and a mortality rate of 0.13 percent, it is evident that these diseases pose a serious threat to public health.
Most outbreaks have occurred in households, amounting to 2,660 cases. The main clinical symptoms of patients in these outbreaks include acute watery diarrhea syndrome and food poisoning, which account for 50.6 and 35.6 percent of cases, respectively. Additionally, bloody diarrhea syndrome and jaundice have been observed in 4.6 and 1.9 percent of outbreaks.
Food has been identified as a potential source of outbreaks in 51.7 percent of cases, with "Shigella" species reported as the dominant microorganism in these outbreaks. This concerning situation indicates the need for immediate and serious actions to control water and foodborne diseases.
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