He also cautioned that Kabul is on the brink of an epidemic. "An epidemic is about to break out here. Over two thousand cases have been reported so far that would meet the case definition of cholera," The AP quoted Fred Hartman, the health expert, as saying.
Hartman is the epidemiologist and technical director for a U.S. Agency for International Development-backed program, the Rural Expansion of Afghanistan's Community-based Health Care.
Hartman, who has been involved in fighting cholera outbreaks around the world for 30 years and has been playing a key role in controlling the disease in Afghanistan.
Hartman stated that 8-9 people had died in the past two weeks and warned the disease could spread quickly throughout the city's 4 million population.
The Afghan Health Ministry on Monday confirmed up to 300 cases, however the ministry officials claimed that the situation is well under control and there have been no deaths.
Hartman praised Afghan Health Ministry's effort to contain Cholera: "For an undeveloped, war-torn country, Afghanistan's ministry of health has been able to respond very well,".
The disease had been detected in wells around the city, the source of drinking water for most of the city's residents as well as irrigation ditches, according to Hartman.
