Editor—The deteriorating infectious disease situation in Iraq as outlined in the news item by Dyer should be of international concern.1 Not only are there ethical arguments for assisting the Iraqi people but some “global public good” arguments relating to communicable disease control may apply.2 Measles outbreaks for example could spread from Iraq to neighbouring countries. Even the outbreaks of typhoid in Iraq may pose a risk to people in other countries—given the evidence for the crossborder spread of typhoid via contaminated food products.3
These arguments support the case for a collective response by the international community and surrounding nations to assist Iraq to strengthen critical health-protecting infrastructure such as the provision of clean water supplies. There may also be a particular obligation for providing assistance on those governments whose military forces caused damage as part of action against the former Iraqi government—for example, to water treatment facilities and electricity services.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Dyer O. Infectious diseases increase in Iraq as public health service deteriorates. BMJ 2004;329: 940. (23 October.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Smith R, Woodward D, Acharya A, et al. Communicable disease control: a “Global Public Good” perspective. Health Policy Plan 2004;19: 271-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Katz DJ, Cruz MA, Trepka MJ, Suarez JA, Fiorella PD, Hammond RM. An outbreak of typhoid fever in Florida associated with an imported frozen fruit. J Infect Dis 2002;186: 234-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]