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Outbreak of cholera in Haiti is 'explosive' says health organization
posted on: Oct 28 2010 12:0 by The Reporter. Viewed 1128 times.
The recent outbreak of Cholera in Haiti has made worldwide news as it continues to spread with “explosive speed”, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The outbreak, first detected last week, has so far caused 292 confirmed dead and 4,147 hospitalizations, according to figures provided to PAHO by the Haiti’s Ministry of Health.
Although the mortality rate is falling (from 10% the first week, now down to 7.7%), the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that the outbreak has not yet peaked. PAHA says there is little chance of wiping out the epidemic quickly, and they expect to see new cases “for years.”
“We expect a very rapid spread, even explosive, in this outbreak,” said Dr. Jon K. Andrus of PAHO at a press conference. He said it is “very difficult” to know whether the epidemic has peaked because there are many cases of people infected do not seek medical attention and this makes it “impossible” to predict the course of the disease.
But he warned that the experience with the epidemic in Peru in 1991 shows that the outbreak in Haiti “will not disappear in a few weeks” but that will require “months” to reverse the trend, and the disease will continue kicking much later.
“We will have cases for years and we need a long term plan,” said Andrus.
The Dominican Government has said it has put all precautions in place to stop the disease spreading into the country.
Dominican Public Health Minister, Bautista Rojas Gomez, there was a large inter-agency coordination operation monitoring the tourist resorts of Punta Cana, Bavaro, in the provinces of La Altagracia and Puerto Plata.
The Bishop of La Altagracia, Bishop Gregorio Nicanor Pena, said that he has observed that the authorities have everything ready to successfully face the possible penetration of the disease in the Dominican Republic.
He said the Health Minister and President of the Dominican Medical Association are setting an example that the interests of the nation should be above individuals and industry.A first step to that end, said PAHO, is in the strategy announced last week by the Haitian Health Ministry, which set up an advertising campaign to instill in the population preventive measures like washing hands frequently, to properly handle the trash, and eating only cooked or peeled foods.
The authorities also plan to coordinate the distribution of oral rehydration salts, which are “the simplest remedy” for the disease, which allows treatment “in 80 percent of cases” and can be administered at home.
Dominican border forces prevent illegal entry of hundreds Haitians
Over the last week, Dominican military sources say they have returned about 500 Haitian immigrants caught crossing the border clandestinely intending to settle in the country illegally.
Border Security Specialist (Cesfront), said that Haitians have been arrested while hiding in mountains, houses and abandoned buildings and vacant lots of Dajabón, located in the northwest Dominican Republic.
The immigrants were handed over to the Immigration Department in Dajabón for later repatriation.
According to reports, after the detection of the cholera in Haiti, which has killed nearly 300 people, the interest of many Haitians to emigrate in any way to the Dominican Republic has increased.
Security on the Dominican-Haitian border zone was being reinforced with members of the Navy and the Air-Force, military sources stated.
The governor of the Department of Fort Liberté (northwest of Haiti), Renord Joseph, along with other Haitian authorities were meeting with Dominican authorities in the province of Dajabón and agreed to suspend the bilateral market to be held that week.
The Haitian official asked for understanding from his Dominicans neighbors, but added that there has been much misinformation that has frightened citizens of both the two Caribbean countries.
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