Cholera update: Haiti and the Dominican Republic

10 December 2010

Cholera cases have been found in the Dominican Republic and the number of cholera deaths in Haiti has risen.

Haiti

Health officials have just announced that the number of deaths from the current cholera epidemic has risen to 1721. A total of 75,888 people have been treated for the disease, of whom 33,485 received inpatient treatment at hospital.

Cholera has killed 760 people in the northern province of Artibonite, the hardest hit by the outbreak. Following that province is Nord, with 290 deaths; Ouest with 285 including 162 in the Haitian capital; Port-au-Prince, Plateau Central with 177; and Nord-Ouest province with 164 fatalities. Only one of Haiti's 10 provinces, Nippes, has not had a single cholera death.

Dominican Republic

The 7th case of cholera was confirmed on Sunday 28th November by the health minister of the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic authorities are taking preventive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Health professionals in the Dominican Republic have been visiting "Little Haiti" a slum in the capital, Santo Domingo, hosting thousands of Haitians, in order to raise hygiene standards and to learn how to prevent the spread the cholera.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Organization for Migrations completed an assessment of 80 health facilities for scaling up cholera treatment in the Dominican Republic. Of these sites, 38 were deemed suitable for the establishment of Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs) or Oral Rehydration Posts (ORPs). The plan is to create 250 ORPs to provide first-line cholera treatment in camps.

The risk of cholera for travellers to the Dominican Republic is very low if appropriate precautions are taken.

Cholera – basic facts

Cholera is a water-borne bacterial disease which causes acute watery diarrhoea and vomiting and can quickly lead to death if untreated owing to rapid dehydration. Safe fluid replacement and, in severe cases, intravenous fluids are required alongside appropriate treatment with antibiotics. Cholera is mainly transmitted through contaminated water and food and is closely linked to inadequate sanitation.

Download our factsheet on cholera

Sources: Pro-MED, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC – Atlanta)