Tom Kruwis
Haiti somehow managed to dodge the specter of a fatal water-borne disease outbreak until earlier this week, when a fatal diarrhea-causing disease struck ferociously, rapidly causing over 1,500 people to fall ill. Over 140 people have died reported Reuters AlertNet. Haiti's President Preval confirmed cholera as the cause of the outbreak Friday morning. This is the first time Haiti has seen cholera for 100 years. Speaking to Reuters, Preval said, "I can confirm it is cholera. Now we are making sure people are fully aware of precautionary measures they have to take to prevent contamination."
Aid groups are rushing in medicine and other supplies Friday to combat Haiti's deadliest health problem since its devastating earthquake. Haiti's President Rene Preval confirmed the outbreak of cholera in the quake-hit country's central region, saying his government was taking measures to try to stop the disease spreading. The outbreak in the rural Artibonite region, which hosts thousands of quake refugees, appeared to confirm relief groups' fears about sanitation for homeless survivors living in tarp cities and other squalid settlements. With the proper resources and assistance, this disease and others would be preventable. Note to Congressman Tom Coburn: there are real-world consequences to withholding aid from Haiti over an over-hyped political non-issue.
Aid groups are rushing in medicine and other supplies Friday to combat Haiti's deadliest health problem since its devastating earthquake. Haiti's President Rene Preval confirmed the outbreak of cholera in the quake-hit country's central region, saying his government was taking measures to try to stop the disease spreading. The outbreak in the rural Artibonite region, which hosts thousands of quake refugees, appeared to confirm relief groups' fears about sanitation for homeless survivors living in tarp cities and other squalid settlements. With the proper resources and assistance, this disease and others would be preventable. Note to Congressman Tom Coburn: there are real-world consequences to withholding aid from Haiti over an over-hyped political non-issue.
Two regions north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, Lower Artibonite and the Central Plateau, have been afflicted with the deadly diarrhea-causing disease, with as many as 1,500 people reported ill late Thursday. The United Kingdom Press Association (UKPA) reported that one hospital in St. Marc, Haiti was overwhelmed with patients, and hundreds of people were being treated for dehydration outside in the parking lot of the hospital.
The Guardian reported that fear of becoming infected with the disease has caused healthy Haitians to refuse to help those who are ill. Presidential candidate, Charles Henry Baker, who helped bring water to the hospital, asked for help.
How Haiti has escaped a major disease outbreak until now is unknown. Conditions in the country have not improved much since the early months following the earthquake, causing a UN official, Walter Kaelin to issue a statement saying Haiti remains in a state of unresolved crisis.
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