The epidemic in Haiti could easily get worse despite efforts to control it, say the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization (PAHO).

Dr. Scott Dowell infectious disease specialist said "with regard to the eradication of cholera in Haiti, we have little hope at this point, we believe that Haiti will have to treat cholera for several years". Recalling that "the treatment is simple, fast and can save many lives and it is on this aspect that health authorities focus."

The NGO Terre des Hommes (TDH) is stepping up briefings and prevention of cholera in the departments, West and South of Haiti, where the great Swiss organization Save the Children supports some 50,000 earthquake victims.

Professor Michel Roulet, of TDH, which has conducted numerous missions in Haiti warns "I have personally witnessed of four outbreaks of cholera in various parts of the world but I never saw the spread stopped, whatever the hardness of the measures taken. We must prepare ourselves to deal with long weeks of illness until to the peak of the epidemic. Then it will take weeks before it is reduced, knowing there will be new outbreaks in subsequent years."

Assessment at the national level:

The latest assessment (cumulative) dated of Friday, November 19, 2010 and published today Monday by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported 23.377 hospitalization since the beginning of the epidemic, either 2.510 additional cases moreover of the last official assessment of November 17 (+12.02%) and 1.344 death either 94 new additional deaths (+7.52%).

Port au Prince and metropolitan area:

In Port-au-Prince and metropolitan area, (Port-au-Prince: Carrefour, Cité Soleil, Delmas, Kenscoff, Pétion-Ville, Port-au-Prince, Tabarre and Croix des Bouquets) it reported 1618 hospitalization since the first reported case in this area, either 161 cases moreover of the last assessment (Nov.17) (+11.05%) and 77 deaths, either 13 new additional deaths (+20,31%).

Many humanitarian believe that official figures are underestimate, information in our position, confirms. The victims in isolated communities are little or no reported. Mortality rates in the Northeast (14%), Southeast (9.5%) and Southeast (18.2%) were the highest in the country (mortality including deaths in hospital and community)

Note (1): Comparisons are made between the assessments of November 16 and 17, 2010 (48 hours). Official figures incorporate data submitted by departments to the Department of Epidemiology and now include the cases reported by NGOs and the Cuban medical mission.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1708-haiti-cholera-epidemic-last-assessment-20867-cases-1250-deaths-less-than-10-of-emergency-assistance-received.html

BF/ HaïtiLibre