ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Eight cases of Cholera have been recorded across Sulaimani province despite authorities taking precautionary measures, the Kurdistan Region’s minister of health announced on Saturday.

“We have had Cholera cases annually, but there have always been precautionary measure,” Saman Barzanji told reporters. “Sulaimani’s drinking water is tested on a daily basis and eight cases of Cholera have been recorded in the province.”

Authorities in Sulaimani last week advised against the purchase of vegetables, citing that the spread of Cholera is due to contamination in the water used to water and clean them.

The Kurdistan Region has recorded several cases of Cholera over the past few years.

In 2023, the Region recorded over 130 cases of Cholera.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused through contaminated food or water.

The last large scale outbreak of Cholera in the Region was in 2012.