NATIONAL CHOLERA CASES UPDATE

CHOLERA EPIDEMIC: LAST ASSESSMENT, 27,933 CASES, 1,523 DEATHS, INSUFFICIENT CAPACITY OF THE CENTERS
(HaitiLibre.com)

The situation in Haiti is urgent and will get worse in the coming weeks. One month after the first cases of cholera, 24 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) provide health services in response to cholera in the Cholera Treatment Centres (CTC) and the Cholera Treatment Units (UTC). In all of Haiti, 36 CTCs are operational with a capacity of approximately 2,830 beds. These centers and their current capacity are insufficient to meet the needs of the population whereas the outbreak is spreading.

Between November 19 and 22, PAHO / WHO has distributed 87 tonnes of essential drugs and supplies in coordination with the MSPP and WFP. This operation, which included all nine departments except the West, has allowed to reconstitute the drug stocks in areas already affected and positioned supplies for the treatment of approximately 30% of the potential cases to be treat in the next few months.

The departments most affected in terms of higher numbers of cases and deaths are: Artibonite, North, Northwest, West (including Port-au-Prince) and the Northeast. Over the past three days, reports of health partners in the Artibonite Department indicate that these rural areas outside Gonaïve reported an increase in cases: Lalomas (Saint Michel), Gros Morne, Cator, Odige, Bayonnais, Marmelade, Platon, as well as Bassin and Vieux Cordes. At Petite Rivière in the Artibonite, reports indicate a high number of cases in rural areas at Pérodin (60 cases) and Medor (105 cases with 22 deaths (20.90%)).

In the north, Cap Haitien needs supplies and human resources because of its increasing number of cases. A substantial increase of cases is reported in Le Borgne.

Assessment at the national level:

The latest assessment (cumulative) dated Monday, November 22, 2010 and published today Wednesday by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported 27,933 hospitalizations since the beginning of the epidemic; 2,685 more cases than the last official assessment of November 20 (+10.63%) and 1,523 deaths; 108 new deaths (+7.63%).

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 2,866 hospitalizations since the first reported case in this area; 766 cases more than the last assessment (Nov.20) (+33.09%) and 140 deaths; 45 new deaths (+47,36%).

Many humanitarians believe that official figures are an underestimate, information that our position confirms. The victims in isolated communities are little or not reported for reasons of accessibility [or politics...]. All agree that the death toll is probably higher than 2.000. Mortality rates in the Northeast (18.2% -0.4%), South (9.6% -0.3%) and Southeast (9.1% -4.2%) remain the highest in the country (including mortality; deaths in hospital and community).

Between November 19 and 20 (24 hours) 1 person per minute has been confirmed as being infected with cholera at the national level during this period (-0.30%)

Note (1): Comparisons are made between the assessments of November 20 and 22, 2010 (48 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.