Disease

Dengue Fever - Sri Lanka

After reporting the most dengue fever cases in years in 2016, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health now reports a 58 percent increase in cases of the mosquito borne viral disease during the first two months of 2017, compared to the same period last year. Through February, Sri Lanka has seen 17,663 dengue cases.

Iraq: Chemical weapons reportedly used in Mosul

Following the reported use of chemical weapons agents in East Mosul, Iraq, WHO, partners and local health authorities have activated an emergency response plan to safely treat men, women and children who may be exposed to the highly toxic chemical.

Since 1 March, 12 patients including women and children with respiratory symptoms and blistering have been received for treatment by a referral hospital in Erbil according to local health authorities. Of these, 4 patients are showing severe signs associated with exposure to a blister agent.

ISIS has used chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria at least 52 times according to a report published late last year by IHS conflict monitor, a London-based research and intelligence gathering group. The report said that at least 19 of the 52 attacks took place in and around Mosul.