Dr. Jon K. Andrus, Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization, gave a press briefing yesterday on the cholera epidemic in Haiti. It is among the scariest things I have read so far about the cholera outbreak. So far, there have been nearly 600 reported deaths and over 8,000 people have been hospitalized. But that is only the figures that have been officially reported. Chances are, the real infection rates are higher. The epidemic has now firmly spread to Port au Prince, where Andrus said conditions are “very ripe for rapid spread of cholera.” And Cholera will not go away anytime soon. In fact it will be around for years, and likely spread. Even, to North America. “We have to prepare for a large upsurge in cases,” Andrus said. “We have to be prepared with all the resources that are needed for a rapid response.” The last cholera epidemic in the Western Hemisphere began in Peru in 1991 and spread to some 16 other countries, from Argentina to Canada. In Peru alone, the epidemic produced more than 650,000 cases over six years. Adjusting for population size, a similar pattern would produce upwards of 270,000 cases in Haiti, Andrus said. This is going to get much worse before it gets better. There are large Haitian diaspora populations in major cities like Miami, New York, Boston and Montreal so it is in all Americans’ interest to keep this contained–not to mention the interest of the millions of Haitians now living under threat of cholera.
http://www.undispatch.com/why-americans-should-care-deeply-about-cholera-in-haiti
http://www.undispatch.com/why-americans-should-care-deeply-about-cholera-in-haiti
After reading this article i realized how serious this disease this is and how so many people are harmed to us. I don't know if it would actually end up spreading to the United States, but it could. I am glad to hear that many people are going to Haiti and helping out with this condition. But i wonder if it would be harmful to those who go to Haiti, if they could end up coming back with the disease?
Give me your feedback on this article! thanks
Give me your feedback on this article! thanks
Given all of the travel that goes on between Haiti and the US (because many Haitians have family in the US), this fear of spread is a real one. We have better facilities to treat cholera here, but, as you noted, it kills quickly and must be treated right away. I assume that the CDC will be very carefully monitoring travelers who come from Haiti; I wouldn't be surprised if there is even a travel ban.
ReplyDeleteKeep your eye on this story; I suspect it will change day-by-day.
It is very true that this a major reason why Americans should worry about the cholera outbreak in Haiti. But I am a little disappointed that medical officials have to pull out these Historical as Dr. Jon K. Andrus did in order to inspire people to help.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is very true that we should be worried about US getting cholera but that shouldn't be what inspires us to help. Everyone should have already been in motion, helping the Haitians who were already infected before they found out just now and started helping for a selfish reason: to save themselves.
this is a really important topic, it's good you're blogging about it.
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