The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced Wednesday that the aid workers in Haiti are preparing for a resurgence of the cholera epidemic, which coincides with the rainy season.

The first rains have led to an increase in cases of cholera in some regions, after that approximately 5000 people died since October due to this disease, which is transmitted through water and food and causes severe diarrhea. However, agencies do not provide that the high level of infection and mortality of the first weeks, will be reached.

The Spokeswoman of OCHA, Emmanuelle Schneider, admitted that "more water means more cholera and that health (the health system) in the country is still very weak". For this reason she calls to "an increased vigilance" and warns that an increase in cases can be registered in the south west, south-east of Haiti, including the capital, Port-au-Prince.

In this sense, a coordinator of PAHO and WHO, Esther van der Woerdt, has explained that the rain and storms that may come in the coming weeks are likely to be "very problematic".

Schneider recalled that the UN and other humanitarian organizations need more funds to cover the 175 million dollars which are needed to respond to cholera "We need more money" and that this amount has been covered at 48 percent.

Last cholera assessment : since the beginning of the cholera epidemic in Haiti (October 19, 2010), 293.470 people were infected and treated, 158.214 people were hospitalized and 4.954 people died. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) [figures undervalued according to UN experts], dated of May 3, 2011.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2875-haiti-cholera-report-of-the-experts-on-the-origin-of-the-epidemic.html

HL/ HaitiLibre