Haiti's
government reports a sharp increase in the number of Haitians killed
and hospitalized by an outbreak of cholera. According to Haiti's
Ministry of Health, 11,125 people have been hospitalized with cholera as
of November 9 and 724 people are reported dead. Three days earlier,
Haitian officials reported 8,138 hospitalized and 544 dead. Cholera is
now confirmed present in at least six of Haiti's 10 provinces, as well
as in its capital and largest city, Port-au-Prince. The number of
victims is expected to continue rising in days and weeks ahead.
Cholera
spreads in water contaminated by feces. Heavy rains from last weekend's
Hurricane Tomas sent water and mud contaminated with feces pouring into
streets, buildings and homes. Cholera causes severe diarrhea and
dehydration. Untreated, it can kill within hours.
To
date, CARE has distributed high-energy biscuits, water purification
tablets, oral rehydration salts, and hygiene kits to more than 16,000
people in the hardest-hit areas. CARE's public information campaign
instructing Haitians on how best avoid and prevent cholera has reached
at least 200,000 people. Additionally, CARE provides clean water and
safe latrine facilities to 50,000 people living in camps for survivors
of Haiti's January 12 earthquake.
''CARE's staff in
Haiti is collaborating with health and water sanitation experts to
ensure Haitians are aware of cholera's risks, and remedies around
cholera,'' said Dr. Franck Geneus, CARE's Health Manager in Haiti. ''We
have teams on the ground in Carrefour, Leogane, St. Michelle, Petite
Riviere, St. Marc, Grand Saline and elsewhere.''
Artibonite
province, where Haiti's cholera outbreak began last month, is the
primary focus of CARE's public information and relief campaign.
''Health
facilities [in Artibonite] are overwhelmed with cholera victims,'' says
Geneus. ''The people are afraid and angry. They don't completely
understand what is happening right now. People have to understand,
cholera is something new to Haiti.''