BMJ  2004;329:1289 (27 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7477.1289

Letter

Infectious diseases in Iraq have international implications

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

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 . . . [Full text of this article]

Wellington School of Medicine, Otago University, Wellington, New Zealand nwilson@actrix.gen.nz

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