WHO calls for safe access to parts of Haiti to control cholera outbreak

The CEO of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu said today that only safe access to cholera-affected areas of Port-au-Prince will bring this infectious outbreak under control.

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The WHO believes it is very likely that there are cases prior to the first ones that were detected and that there are currently more people infected than are registered.

The cholera outbreak was initially located in two areas of Port-au-Prince, the country’s capital, which are under the control of criminal gangs, which seriously hinders access to aid for the population.

Twelve years ago, Haiti suffered one of the worst cholera epidemics in recent decades, which cost the lives of almost 10,000 people.

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“The affected areas are insecure and controlled by gangs, which makes it very difficult to collect samples and delays laboratory confirmation of cases and deaths,” Tedros explained.

According to the latest figures from the Haitian Ministry of Public Health, 224 cases and 16 deaths have been registered, although these data correspond to the weekend, so the sick and fatalities could be many more.

According to the WHO, a quarter of the cases are in children under the age of five.

Separately, authorities confirmed 39 cholera cases and nine cholera deaths in the capital’s main prison.

Tedros assured that the WHO is working with the Haitian Ministry of Health to coordinate a response that includes epidemiological surveillance, access to drinking water and sanitation, and vaccination.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.