Deir Ezzor – Obadah al-Sheikh
Western Deir Ezzor countryside has witnessed a noticeable surge in cases of watery diarrhea, with a sharp increase in suspected cholera cases reported since mid-March. The situation deteriorated significantly at the end of May and into early June.
In response, al-Kasrah General Hospital has allocated a dedicated isolation and treatment unit for patients, supported and directed by the international organization IMC (International Medical Corps).
The isolation ward currently houses over 30 patients, with staff focusing on providing primary care, including dehydration assessment, nutritional evaluation, fever monitoring, and overall patient observation.
If a patient’s condition does not improve, they are referred to larger medical facilities in Raqqa or Deir Ezzor, in northern and eastern Syria, for advanced treatment.
Over 30 Patients Admitted
According to the hospital’s medical staff, al-Kasrah Hospital has received more than 30 cases over the past week from al-Zaghir, Hamar al-Kasrah, Hamar al-Ali, and primarily from al-Kasrah town itself, in addition to al-Harmoushiya.
Doctors are treating all watery diarrhea cases as potential cholera infections. Relevant organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have been notified.
While some stool samples have tested positive for cholera, the hospital is struggling due to a shortage of diagnostic stool test kits, making it necessary to rely on symptom evaluation and preliminary test results for diagnosis.
Economic Burdens and Community Challenges
Speaking to Enab Baladi, pharmacist Khudr al-Dahoush highlighted the rising cost of medicines and the shortage of some essential types, which forces health workers to administer emergency care only. Patients who require specific medications are referred to supported clinics and hospitals where treatment is provided free of charge.
These conditions weigh heavily on local residents, many of whom cannot afford the high costs of private treatment.
“I’m sick and I simply can’t afford the expensive medications sold at private pharmacies,” said Ibrahim al-Jamil, one of the patients, expressing hope that basic medicines will be made available for free, adding, “illness doesn’t wait.”
Medical staff at al-Kasrah Hospital stressed the need to enhance health awareness and improve water and sanitation services in these areas to contain the outbreak, especially with continued contamination of drinking water supplies.
What Is Cholera?
Dr. Akram Khoulani, a family medicine specialist and member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), explained in a previous interview with Enab Baladi that cholera is a bacterial infection that affects the small intestine, caused by ingesting a large quantity of bacteria.
He noted that while some bacteria are destroyed by stomach acid, others settle in the intestine and multiply, releasing toxins that trigger massive water and salt loss, leading to severe watery diarrhea.
The infection typically spreads through contaminated food or water, especially when sewage infiltrates drinking water networks or when storage tanks become polluted.
About 20% of cholera cases develop severe symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to life-threatening dehydration, with a 50% fatality rate if left untreated. However, with proper treatment, the mortality rate drops to less than 1%.
A Collapsing Medical Sector
The healthcare sector in the Deir Ezzor countryside under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is in a dire state, suffering from severe shortages in equipment and medical services.
Local sources report that hospitals and clinics lack essential diagnostic devices, hampering their ability to identify and treat diseases effectively.
There is also a near-total shortage of vital medications, putting lives at risk and leaving even basic treatments unavailable.
The crisis extends beyond equipment and medicine—there is also an acute shortage of specialized medical staff, with the area suffering from a critical lack of doctors, nurses, and technicians.
The post Cholera Spreads in Western Deir Ezzor, Syria, as al-Kasrah Hospital Isolates 30 Suspected Cases appeared first on Enab Baladi.