Haiti’s Cholera Epidemic Yet To Peak

In Americas, Diseases & Mutations, News Headlines

The cholera outbreak in Haiti that has claimed 3,651 lives has not peaked, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

The deadly disease that also infected 171,304 people.

“We think that the peak has not been reached,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said.

“The peak has not been reached because it would require the mortality rate to drop to less than one per cent from 2.2 per cent at the moment. That would take several weeks.

“There will be certainly many more cases of cholera in Haiti, it’s certain.

“But what is sure is that fewer people will die.”

Ms Chaib says the mortality rate has already been cut from nine per cent late last year.

She also pointed out that in certain rural areas, more than 100 new cases of cholera are still being detected every day.

She says the UN health agency had trained more than 500 health experts to deal with the cholera outbreak.

“We are continuing to mobilise experts to the most affected zones,” she added, saying that “very significant challenges” remain in the impoverished Caribbean nation.

The epidemic, which began in October 2010, spawned deadly anti-UN riots in November as some turned their anger on peacekeepers from Nepal accused of bringing the disease into the country.

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