October 26, 2022 09:43
The Ministry of Health in Haiti announced that the outbreak of cholera in this country is increasing rapidly, with the number of cases doubling to about 2,000 within days, with at least 41 deaths.
The new outbreak of the disease, which began in early October, comes nearly three years after this poor Caribbean country, which is also mired in heightened insecurity, eradicated an outbreak that began in 2010 and killed more than 10,000 people.
“Until a few days ago, the increase in cholera cases was gradual, but we are currently seeing an alarmingly sharp increase, so the situation is becoming more difficult,” Ulrika Richardson, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti, wrote in a blog published on Tuesday.
“Although cholera can be fatal, it can be prevented and treated,” she said, adding that “speed is a key factor” to contain the outbreak.
And the Haitian Ministry of Health announced that between October 19 and 23, the number of suspected cases increased from 964 to 1972, while the number of deaths increased from 33 to 41 deaths.
The vast majority of cases were detected in the province of Gharb, the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the poor neighborhood of Cité Soleil.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that according to UNICEF, children under the age of 14 made up about half of the cases.
Richardon said she had visited several cholera treatment centers in the capital’s worst-hit district.
The Government of Haiti has appealed to the international community to provide assistance to curb the worsening health and security crisis.
Source: agencies
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