Cholera is breaking out in Haiti causing all kinds of problems. Image by M_Eriksson.
Just five days ago, the Midecins San Frontieres or Doctors Without Borders, saw 30 cases of Cholera at Choscal Hospital on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. By Thursday, the number of cases seen was 216. The rise in in the illness and in deaths from the illness is alarming.
It’s expected to go even higher.
According to Haiti’s Ministry of Public health and Population, the death toll now is more than 700 with the 3 week old cholera epidemic. In order stop this deadly bacteria the country needs more doctors, more medical supplies and water purification systems. It will continue to spread through water via human waste and through contaminated food.
All they need to stop this is very simple sanitation steps.
There are currently more than 200,000 people that need treated for symptoms like diarrhea to severe symptoms like dehydration. If left untreated a person can die within hours.
Many people are still living in tent cities since the earthquake back in January. The outbreak has been confirmed in those tent cities and there is great concern that it will spread quickly due to the tight living conditions and the unsanitary conditions.
Aid workers are now cleaning up from the hurricane that came through last week, yet the earthquake devastation is still to be seen everywhere, as little has been cleaned up.
