Cholera Reaches Haiti Earthquake Camps (Death Toll Soars to 600)

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

Health officials confirm first case of deadly disease in camp for earthquake survivors as toll soars to 600.

11 Nov 2010

Health officials in Haiti have confirmed the first case of cholera in one of the earthquake survivors' camps set up in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The development heightened fears that the disease, which has already claimed hundreds of lives, could spread rapidly among thousands of people living in the cramped camps - the perfect breeding ground for cholera.

Al Jazeera's Cath Turner, reporting from Port-au-Prince, said the first confirmed case was a 26-year-old woman. "Last Saturday the authorities were alerted about a 26-year-old woman ... with acute diarrhoea. She was isolated in her tent and treated for suspected cholera," she said.

"She was then moved to a treatment clinic where she was in isolation again and has now recovered. Her tent, her toilet and the area she was living in was sprayed and she is now back living in the tent and is no longer a risk to the area. Now, in the last hour, the national laboratory, which is attached to to the Haitian ministry for health, rang the camp manager and confirmed that it was cholera. That's the first incident we've heard of a cholera confirmed case ... That woman was a group of six suspected cases. That's the first one that has come back positive. We're still waiting for results on the other five of the group."

'Large urban slum'

At least 600 people have been killed by cholera since the first cases were confirmed about two weeks ago. More than 7,000 others are receiving treatment.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010111023475117420.html

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Video report: http://english.aljazeera.net/video/americas/2010/11/2010111125020305610.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. BBC link from a few days back when it was 544

Makes me want to fucking scream. All the help that was promised there largely appears to have been lip service.

:hi:

[Turborama]

4. Reports on Reuters now that it's 800

They also say up to yesterday it was 724, there's a bit of confusion with the numbers: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE6AB05B20101112

Yep, me too. Any idea how much was promised versus how much has actually been given?

:hi:

[Yeahyeah]

2. What happened to all those monies?

[Mika]

3. Cholera warning for h/c professionals in Miami-Dade, Fl.

Cholera warning for h/c professionals in Miami-Dade, Fl.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9526364