ARTICLE - NO SLOWDOWN IN SIGHT

18,382 CASES DECLARED, 1,110 DEATHS, NO SLOWDOWN IN SIGHT
(HaitiLibre.com)

Mortality from cholera continues to climb and the security situation in the north, prevent supplies reaching those which most need help. The Northern Department faces a hospital fatality rate of 7.5%, the highest in the country, said Nigel Fisher, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.

It is estimated that between 2.5 and 3 million people live in Port-au-Prince, but about half live in camps. The biggest fear is that the current cholera epidemic will enter into the camps where more than 1.3 million people are living in difficult conditions. Even though the sanitary conditions in the camps are better than in many places like Cité Soleil, the risk nonetheless exists because of overcrowding in the camps and lack of hygiene.

Assessment at the national level:

The latest assessment (cumulative) dated Monday, November 15, 2010 and published today Wednesday by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported 18,382 hospitalizations since the beginning of the epidemic; 1,583 additional cases more than the last official assessment of November 14 (+9.42%) and 1,110 deaths; 76 additional deaths from the last assessment (+7.35%).

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) have reported 953 hospitalizations since the first reported case in this area, 78 cases more from the last assessment (Nov.14) (+8.91%) and 46 deaths; 8 additional deaths (+21.05%).

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

Note: Comparisons are made between the assessment of November 14 and 15 November, 2010 (24 hours).

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.