Cholera outbreak: On the ground in St Marc

As Haiti grapples with the worst health crisis since the earthquake, the cholera situation remains uncertain, with the death toll topping 200, according to Haitian health officials on Saturday.  Partners In Health is providing urgent care to the ill and mounting a massive community campaign to distribute soap and rehydration salts, and educate people about prevention. Our community health workers are traveling to the most affected areas in search of patients who need immediate treatment.

• The number of new cases at the hospital in St. Marc on Friday was lower than on Thursday. But with only 3 days of data, it is not yet possible to say that this represents a positive trend.
• Some cases (10) have now been reported in Gonaives, the largest city in the Artibonite region located 34 miles north of St. Marc.
• The nonprofit organization Yele Haiti will start trucking water to communities in collaboration with PIH on Saturday. Operation Blessing has already been doing so since Thursday.
• A team from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Belgium arrived in Petite Riviere de l'Artibonite on Friday, where they are providing technical assistance at the hospital PIH operates with the Ministry of Health. Another team from MSF Spain has been working with PIH in St. Marc and has helped set up a system for burning waste at the hospital that will go into effect today (Saturday).

A large concern is the geographic spread of the outbreak, and particularly the possibility of its spread to Port-au-Prince. In a call with reporters yesterday, PIH Chief Medical Officer, Joia Mukherjee, warned, "There's no reason to anticipate [cholera] wouldn't spread widely within Haiti.'' Thus far no confirmed cases have been reported in the capital city, and Haitian health officials and international groups are working desperately to contain the epidemic. We are posting news and media coverage to our website continuously and will continue to post updates as more information becomes available. 

Our profound thanks to the many of you who have already made a contribution. Your support provides PIH with the resources needed to respond immediately to the cholera outbreak.