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Cholera Exploding in Haiti

200K cases of fatal disease are expected by year's end

By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2010 9:16 AM CST

(Newser) – In Haiti, it's going from bad to worse to worse, with the news that the UN has doubled the number of cholera cases it expects to see there. A UN official says 425,000 cases are expected to occur in the first six months following the fatal disease's October appearance—more than twice the original estimate of 200,000 cases. But that earlier figure is popping up once again: Of the 425,000 cases, some 200,000 are expected before the end of 2010, with a peak before Christmas.

The Ministry of Health has officially logged 66,593 cases, with 1,523 deaths as of Monday, but the Wall Street Journal notes the officials acknowledge the true number is likely much higher. The UN official asked for help: "Funds are an element but not the only element," he said. "We've asked other international agencies, 'if you have resources for next year, reallocate them to cholera now and to take their capacities outside of Port-au-Prince,'" where most of the aid is currently concentrated.

A woman suffering cholera symptoms is carried on a wheelbarrow to the St. Catherine hospital, run by Doctors Without Borders, in the slum of Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
A woman suffering cholera symptoms is carried on a wheelbarrow to the St. Catherine hospital, run by Doctors Without Borders, in the slum of Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.   (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Girls suffering from cholera symptoms are seen outside a local hospital as they receive treatment in Limbe village, near Cap Haitien, Haiti, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010.
Girls suffering from cholera symptoms are seen outside a local hospital as they receive treatment in Limbe village, near Cap Haitien, Haiti, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010.   (AP photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People suffering from cholera symptoms lie in a crowed  room as they receive their treatment in a local hospital in Limbe village, near Cap Haitien,, Haiti, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010.
People suffering from cholera symptoms lie in a crowed room as they receive their treatment in a local hospital in Limbe village, near Cap Haitien,, Haiti, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010.   (AP photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A girl suffering cholera symptoms waits for treatment at a sports center that has been converted into a cholera treatment center in Cap Haitien, Haiti, Tuesday Nov. 23, 2010.
A girl suffering cholera symptoms waits for treatment at a sports center that has been converted into a cholera treatment center in Cap Haitien, Haiti, Tuesday Nov. 23, 2010.   (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 3 comments
Riffran
Nov 27, 2010 3:12 AM CST
what a damn shame...especially when there are products out there designed to combat that specific problem, that are cheap and effective...one is called pur....a little packet that treats the water, and kills that crap
getherdone
Nov 25, 2010 9:39 AM CST
What these people are going through is terrible.
 

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