The cholera epidemic reached a second peak in early June with a significant increase in severe cases, particularly in Port-au-Prince metropolitan area and other parts of the Ouest, Sud-Est, Sud, Grand Anse, Artibonite and Centre departments. Some areas of the Nord department saw a twofold increase in the number of new patients over a two week period.

Despite a resurgence of cholera cases due to abundant rains, mortality rates have been declining steadily in all departments.

From a peak of 1,938 on 9 June, the number of occupied bed in the seven communes of Port-au-Prince metropolitan area decreased gradually to reach 1,365 on 28 June, reports the Health Cluster. Following torrential rains on 6 and 7 June and to respond to subsequent cholera outbreaks, the total bed capacity in the metropolitan area had been scaled up from 1, 400 in May to 2,500 in June.

A downward trend has also been observed in the past weeks in Léogâne and Gressier, Palmes region of the Ouest department. Health actors have been successful in covering medical needs and WASH partners have intensified public health awareness campaigns and distribution of WASH items.

Nationwide, emergency partners that started to phase down in March once the epidemic stabilized have reactivated their operations. Others, involved in longer term projects, have scaled up their activities by hiring extra medical staff, providing additional medical supplies, treatment space and oral rehydration posts (ORPs), and deploying large number of community volunteers tasked with disseminating prevention and best hygiene practice messages.

Distributions of Aquatabs, oral rehydration salts and soap are also being conducted and emergency stocks of medical supplies such as catheters, Doxicicline and Erythomicin have been made available for immediate use or pre positioned in hard hit areas. Desludging and decontamination of latrines are also ongoing.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3245-haiti-cholera-a-partial-assessment-that-hides-the-reality.html

HL/ HaitiLibre