UN warns Haiti's cholera outbreak is not yet contained

[News_Editor]

UN warns Haiti's cholera outbreak is not yet contained

2010-10-28 05:26:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- A United Nations (UN) health official on Wednesday warned that the cholera outbreak in Haiti, which has killed at least 284 people, is not yet contained.

In addition to the victims, 3,769 cases have been confirmed, with 96 percent of them having been reported in the Artibonite department, and the rest in the Center department, according to the UN.

Furthermore, the case fatality rate of the outbreak is 7.7 percent, which is considered high, but is expected to decline as treatment and prevention measures stabilize.

"I do not think that we have reached the peak of this epidemic," said Claire-Lise Chaignat, the coordinator of the global task force on cholera control at the UN World Health Organization (WHO), stressing the need to continue enhancing treatment, prevention and response preparedness measures even in areas that have not been affected by the epidemic.

Chaignat said the provision of clean drinking water to populations in affected areas was a key control measure, as was the improvement of sanitation facilities, availability of oral rehydration salts for those already infected and ensuring that people ate food prepared with clean water and in good hygiene conditions.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Haiti’s health ministry and WHO have developed a strategy to ensure the availability of all basic medical supplies required to respond to the disease and strengthen the capacity of treatment centres and hospitals.

Chaignat said 40 percent of people living along the Artibonite River, which is believed to be the sources of the cholera bacteria, have been reached with water chlorination tablets. In addition, the Un said eighty primary health care centers and 10 special cholera treatment units are being equipped to better handle cases, while eight hospitals now have the capacity to treat the most severe cases.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), for its part, said it is adapting 22,000 standard hygiene kits to meet specific needs to reduce the spread of the disease. The kits, which contain chlorine water purification pills, rehydration salts and soap to maintain higher levels of hygiene, will be distributed mainly to pregnant women, warning that cholera may increase the risk of miscarriage and premature births.

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