OPERATIONAL BIOSURVEILLANCE
UPDATE: COMMUNITY OUTCRY BLAMING NEPALESE MINUSTAH DEPLOYMENT IN MIREBALAIS FOR CHOLERA EPIDEMIC
We've received word of community outcry and rumor transmission regarding sewage from a Nepalese MINUSTAH deployment contaminating the Artibonite River. We do not know if the UN has evaluated this complaint, but as is often the case in unusual epidemics, ostracism has appeared in a few places now as locals attempt to explain the unusual and place blame. Very common phenomenon in our operational experience.
We did a cross-check on Nepal and cholera activity and discovered that Kathmandu issued a cholera outbreak alert on Sept 23rd. They reported an abrupt increase of 25 cases, which obviously represents a small outbreak but officials were concerned enough to mount an organized response. Cholera is endemic in Nepal.
The only way to know for sure is to conduct a site investigation and compare samples from Nepal and the MINUSTAH Nepalese troops.
Cross-check of the peer-reviewed literature indicates the sole serotype of cholera in Nepal reported to the Nepal National Laboratory from 2008-2009 was 01 Ogawa El Tor (see attached).
Download Ogawa El Tor in Nepal
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