iciHaiti - Health: Important Localized Cholera Outbreaks
According to the report released on May 31 by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) during the month of April 2018, 422 suspected cholera cases and 5 deaths were recorded, an increase compared to the previous month when 290 suspected cases and 1 death were reported. The departments of Centre, Nord, Artibonite, and Nord-Ouest experienced several localized outbreaks, fostered by the heavy rains of late April which at times disrupted response activities. Nevertheless, there was a 61% decrease in number of suspected cases and 44% in number of deaths compared to the same period in 2017.
This continuous trend of favorable results is due to improved cholera response activities and better coordination. However, given the precarious health situation in the most exposed areas and lack of access to healthcare services in remote areas - a factor that explains the community deaths still observed - the risk of the spread of infection remains high. Therefore, the response measures currently underway must continue unabated and must be reinforced.
