"Outbreak" in Iraq.

Sounds eerily like the "nonexistent" WMDs we've heard so much about. At least that's the first thought that popped into my head when I read this article. (Acinetobacter was also the "second most common pathogen in Vietnam".)

However:
"The Acinetobacter was found by Scott in the soil in Iraq. And it has turned up in both native Iraqi's [sic] and in patients treated there for a long time. Scott's study had limitations, but there is a long history of Acinetobacter infections in the Middle East." So perhaps I should remove my borrowed tinfoil hat? 'Course how "long" is this "long history"? As long as Saddam's been developing WMDs? Is it possible that this is the result of him "disposing" of these WMDs? Did he "dispose" of them in the soil and therefore cause "a long history of Acinetobacter infections"?

Lots of questions. I wonder if we'll hear any more about this in the media.

Thanks to the ConservaDad for sending this along. :)

Update: nevermind?
From a quick Google search:
"A. baumannii are a species of gram-negative bacteria commonly found in water and soil. During 1963--2003, A. baumannii became an increasingly important cause of nosocomial infections, particularly in ICUs"

But this makes it sound like there was a spike in infections especially in 2003-2004. (104 during that time, and ONE case during 2000--2002 at LRMC; TWO cases during 2001--2002 at WRAMC)

Hm. Anyone have any thoughts?