Haiti - Cholera Epidemic : 134.678 people infected, 2.901 dead

Last cholera assessment: Since the beginning of the epidemic of cholera in the country (October 19, 2010), 134.678 people were infected and treated, 73.853 people were hospitalized and 2,901 people died. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), dated of December 20, 2010.

National situation:
Between December 18 and 20 2010 (latest figures published by the MSPP)

The number of infected people has increased of 6.427 cases (+5.01%)
The number of people hospitalized of +5.089 cases
The deaths of +194 (1 death every 15 minutes)

Grand’Anse :
After the adjustment of the figures for Grande Anse, between December 17 and 18, which increased from 1.161 to 2.986 people infected (+1.825 cases +287%), the new assessment between December 18 and 20 increased from 2.986 to 5.736 cases (+2.750 cases, one every 25 seconds) increased by 92% in 48 hours. It should be noted that the MSPP can not do simple subtraction, as 5.736 - 2.986 gives 696 cases for the MSPP!

The death toll passes of 135 (December 18) to 201 the December 20 (+66 deaths) an increase of +48% in 48 hours. Again, the MSPP in its official figures indicate an incorrect figure of 17 deaths...

Port-au-Prince :
Figures of Port au Prince are unusable because the MSPP do not record any death since December 18 in the the department most populous of the country... both hospital and community. At the community level the figures of the dead were never taken into account in their assessment, which allows the Government to present an assessment of the lowest mortality rate of the country for this Department...

Note that these figures reflect the situation, there are 10 days, and are grossly underestimated by the government, according to health experts from the UN, who believe that these figures could be double those released.

News in Brief:
In the southern department, the management of corpses remains a huge challenge, particularly in Les Cayes, where at least 64 corpses remained several weeks in hospital because the population was opposed to their burial in a common grave.

Cases of cholera continue to be reported in residential centers (orphanage, nursery, transitional center). An orphanage in Arcahaie reported 30 cases of cholera among disabled children, six died, a mortality rate rate of 20%.

Since December 16, the Logistics Cluster has provided transportation services trucks and delivered 348 metric tons of medical inputs and WASH. The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) carried 77.5 tonnes of medical inputs and WASH items on behalf of multiple partners in 14 areas of the country. The warehouse in Croix des Bouquets, which is used by 18 organizations, will remain open for three more months until the end of March 2011.

In addition, support for the response to the earthquake is still ongoing. A total of 135 metric tons of material of reconstruction, food and equipment storage were moved to remote areas of the department of the Nippes and mountainous areas of the Western Department.

See also:
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2001-haiti-agriculture-cholera-threatens-food-security-in-haiti.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1986-haiti-epidemic-vaccination-against-cholera-true-or-false-hopes.html

PI/ HaitiLibre