ARTICLE - NATIONAL CHOLERA CASES - UPDATE

CHOLERA EPIDEMIC: LAST ASSESSMENT, 20,867 CASES, 1,250 DEATHS, LESS THAN 10% OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE RECEIVED
(HaitiLibre.com)

The United Nations (UN) launched an emergency call (on November 12th) among the member countries, for an amount of 164 million dollars in order to fight against the cholera epidemic which prevails in Haiti.

Until now the response is insufficient to fight effectively against the epidemic.

"We are very grateful for the contributions received to date, in cash and in kind, but so far we have received less than 10% of what we need," lamented Nigel Fisher Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti .

"Essential supplies and skills are urgently needed. We need doctors, nurses, systems for purifying water, chlorine tablets, soap, oral rehydration salts, tents for cholera treatment centers and a range of other medical supplies. Without medical help, the death rate will increase considerably. If we can provide to patients, a timely treatment, we can save lives."

So far, 36 Cholera Treatment Centers (CTC) have already been implemented nationally and 61 smaller units for treatment of cholera (CTU), and others are under construction. Transport units should be provided for each hospital in Haiti. Humanitarian workers on Saturday alone have distributed 40 tonnes of medical supplies.

Assessment at the national level:

The latest assessment (cumulative) dated Wednesday, November 17, 2010 and published today Sunday (!) by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported 20,867 hospitalizations since the beginning of the epidemic; 1,221 additional cases from the last official assessment of November 16 (+6.22%) and 1,250 deaths; 64 new deaths (+5.39%).

Port au Prince and metropolitan area:

In Port-au-Prince and metropolitan area, (Port-au-Prince: Carrefour, Cité Soleil, Delmas, Kenscoff, Pétion-Ville, Port-au-Prince, Tabarre and Croix des Bouquets) has reported 1,457 hospitalizations since the first reported case in this area; 148 cases more than the last assessment (Nov.16) (+11.15%) and 64 deaths; 3 new deaths (+4,91%).

Nigel Fisher said that these figures take into account only victims who have reached medical facilities and theses are expected to increase in coming days.

Many humanitarians believe that official figures underestimate the scale of the epidemic.

Moreover, this assessment is out with 4 days delay.

In the North where the rate of hospital mortality was the highest in the country, this last assessment shows 9.7%. The total mortality (hospital and community) was 9.3% in the North on November 17. The MSPP indicates that the figures for the North are partial.

Note: Comparisons are made between the assessment of November 16 and 17 November, 2010.

Official figures incorporate data submitted by departments to the Department of Epidemiology and now include the cases reported by NGOs and the Cuban medical mission.