ISIS Militants Have Contracted Ebola: Iraqi, Kurdish Media Reports

Several Iraqi media sources stated Wednesday that some of the Islamic State militants in Mosul have contracted Ebola.

Three Iraqi media outlets reported that two cases of Ebola have been 'recorded' in Mosul, which is considered to be the jihadist group's stronghold.  

Although the news has not been confirmed by the World Health Organization officials, they are ready to offer assistance to the victims.

Iraqi newspaper 'Al-Sabah' reported that as many as two Ebola and 26 AIDS cases had been registered in the city.

"We have no official notification from [the Iraqi government] that it is Ebola," Christy Feig, WHO's director of communications, told Mashable.

Feig further said that the organization is at present trying to contact Iraq government officials to see whether they need any help in investigating the cases, which could be a daunting task even for the most self-sufficient nations. Considering that the region is under the control of ISIS, there might be more restrictions than in other regions where the disease has reportedly spread.

Moreover, it is not clear whether experts in Iraq are even able to test the virus.

Symptoms of Ebola are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding and bruising. Kurdish media network Xendan reported that the symptoms exhibited by the ISIS fighters were similar to than shown by a patient of Ebola.

Al- Sabah further reported that an unidentified source told them that the virus had reached Mosul from "terrorists" who had come "from several countries" and Africa.

However, the Iraqi Health Ministry rubbished the reports of Ebola cases, calling them "incorrect".

The deadly virus has already killed thousands in West Africa and has left the entire world frightened.