News

There is an ongoing cholera outbreak in Haiti. Cholera is a waterborne diarrheal infection, which is very easy to catch. The main signs and symptoms is an increasing watery discharge with stomach cramps the diarrhoea quickly becomes the classic ‘rice water’ and death often occurs due to profound dehydration. Treatment includes antibiotics (doxcycyline) and rehydration salts to replace the lost electrolytes and fluids. Prevention is treat all water, wash hands and do not pick up or place hands near your face that has not been disinfected first.

There is now evidence that Cholera can linger in sea water and travel some distance from the outbreak site. Sea birds and fish can physically carry the infection.

Update: Cholera Outbreak --- Haiti, 2010
Weekly
November 19, 2010 / 59(45);1473-1479

On October 19, 2010, the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) was notified of unusually high numbers of patients from Artibonite and Centre departments who had acute watery diarrhea and dehydration, in some cases leading to death. Within 4 days, the National Public Health Laboratory (LNSP) in Haiti isolated Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1, serotype Ogawa, from stool specimens obtained from patients in the affected areas by an investigation team from MSPP and CDC Haiti. This report describes the investigation of the initial cases, the ongoing outbreak of cholera in Haiti, and initial control measures. Since the initial identification of cholera, the outbreak has expanded to include cases in seven of Haiti's 10 departments and the capital city of Port-au-Prince. As of November 13, MSPP had reported 16,111 persons hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea and 992 cholera deaths, 620 of which occurred among hospitalized patients. Prevention and control measures implemented by MSPP with assistance from governmental and nongovernmental partners include 1) providing better access to treated drinking water; 2) providing education on improvement of sanitation, hygiene, and food preparation practices; 3) advising ill persons to begin using oral rehydration solution immediately and seek health care at the onset of watery diarrhea; 4) enhancing cholera treatment capacity at existing health-care institutions; and 5) establishing cholera treatment centers.