Haiti - Epidemic : Cholera spreads in South and in the rural areas of the North

Two months after the beginning of the cholera epidemic in Haiti, the activities of Medecins sans Frontiers (MSF) does not weaken. Almost 2,000 patients arrive each day in the cholera treatment facilities operated or supported by MSF . If the number of cases seem "stabilized" in the Artibonite and Port-au-Prince, the epidemic continues to spread in cities and rural areas of the North.

Last week, MSF has treated more than 5,000 patients in the departments of North and Northwest. The challenge is primarily logistics, because the affected areas are extremely difficult to access. MSF teams set up multiple points of rehydration and new facilities for the treatment of cholera have been set up to Pignon, St Raphaël, Ranquitte and Gaspard.

The teams are seeing a clear progression of the epidemic in the South: 439 patients last week. In Jacmel, the unit of the MSF cholera treatment, with a capacity of 50 beds, receives over a hundred patients by day. "We had to place up to four patients per bed, tried to save many patients as possible before reinforcements arrive. Today we opened a new treatmentcenter with a capacity of 100 beds, allowing us to manage the situation," said Dr. Loreto Barcelo, MSF coordinator in Jacmel.

Since the beginning of the epidemic, MSF has treated more than 15,000 people with symptoms of cholera in the capital and 23,000 in the Artibonite Department, home of the epidemic.

Last cholera assessment: Since the beginning of the epidemic of cholera in the country (October 19, 2010), 114.497 people were infected and treated, 58.190 people were hospitalized and 2.535 people died. According to the most recent assessment of MSPP, dated of December 14, 2010. Note that these figures are grossly underestimated by the government, according to health experts from the UN.

MSF Emergency cholera in Numbers:

Since October 22, 2010, MSF has:

• Treated 62,000 persons with symptoms of cholera in Haiti, either 10,000 more than last week
  
• Installed 47 structures installed cholera treatment across the country, either 7 more than last week
  
• Imported 770 tons of medical supplies and logistics
  
• Mobilized 4.000 haitian staff and 315 expatriates
  

BF/ HaitiLibre