The growing threat of cholera in the Middle East and other areas will be the central focus of testimony by leading U.S. authorities at a hearing to be held by the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s global health subcommittee, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04).
Smith scheduled the congressional hearing, entitled “The Growing Threat of Cholera and other Diseases in the Middle East?” for Weds. Jan. 27. He has held other global health hearings on the threat of diseases such as smallpox, polio, Ebola and other diseases.
Conflict in the Middle East has increasingly enabled the spread of cholera in the Middle East. The World Health Organization reported the spread of a cholera epidemic in Iraq in 2007 that crossed over into Iran and Syria and is considered one of the region’s greatest health threats. This threat is believed to be worsened by the targeting of health workers in Syria and an Islamic State that has no experience and little interest in providing social services. The hearing will examine the scope of the cholera threat to determine what can and should be done to control it and minimize its spread beyond the Middle East.
Who: Smith, chair of the Africa and global health subcommittee, other Members, and non-government organizations, including Dr. Host Peter J. Hotez, M.D., President, Sabin Vaccine Institute.
What: Congressional briefing and hearing of House Global Health Subcommittee
When: Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m.
Where: Rayburn House Office Building
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