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Washington, DC, October 6, 2022 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is working closely with Haitian public health officials and international partners to help the country respond to the recent cholera outbreak.
After more than three years of reporting, Haiti first confirmed two cases of Vibrio cholerae O1 on October 2. In the year In an update on October 5, national authorities have confirmed 11 cases, including 2 deaths, and a total of 111 cases are under investigation in various communes around Port-au-Prince.
As an initial immediate response, PAHO donated two tons of medical supplies and equipment for case management and disinfectants from the emergency stockpile in Port-au-Prince to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is facilitating the health response in the affected area.
PAHO has donated tents to MSF and the Ministry of Health to set up four cholera treatment centers that can accommodate 50 patients each. In addition, the organization is procuring cholera kits and other essential supplies to treat patients and prevent the spread of the disease.
Haiti is currently facing a complex humanitarian crisis, with socio-political instability and oil blockades severely limiting the functioning of health services and hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid by international organizations and partners.
Due to fuel shortages, protests, looting and general strikes, access to affected sections of society has become extremely challenging and has worsened in recent weeks. Health facilities have started to close their doors and health professionals are unable to go to work. In the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, patients face similar problems due to lack of transportation and road closures. Power supply problems affect the public’s water supply, which can worsen an already dangerous situation.
as if Epidemiological warning Issued on October 2, PAHO warned that the worsening violence will affect the current assessment of the epidemiological situation and that cholera cases may rise in the country. PAHO emphasizes that sociopolitical and conflict factors can significantly affect the dynamics of cholera resurgence and the severity of disease in patients suffering from acute diarrhea.
PAHO recommended that countries in the region strengthen their surveillance systems for early detection of cholera and acute diarrhea and improve their preparedness and response plans. The organization called on member states to continue efforts and strengthen measures to improve the quality and conditions of water and sanitation.
In the year Between October 2010 and February 2019, a series of outbreaks in Haiti resulted in more than 820,000 cases of cholera and nearly 10,000 deaths. In February of this year, Haiti marked three years without a cholera outbreak and was preparing to make its case for cholera-free status by the end of 2022.
Cholera It is transmitted through food contaminated with water and faeces and causes acute diarrhea within hours. Clean water and sanitation are critical to preventing and controlling the spread of cholera, which can be a challenge in poor communities and conflict situations. The disease can be treated with restorative measures and antibiotics.
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