Deadly cholera outbreak hits Haiti

Haitian health authorities have notified the World Health Organisation of at least 138 deaths, with more than 1500 infected.

“I can confirm it is cholera,” President Preval told the media, as his government vowed to take measures to stop the disease spreading further.

Government and UN officials said victims were suffering severe diarrhea and rapid dehydration, with some dying in just hours.

The outbreak is centered on the Lower Artibonite region, north of the capital Port-au-Prince, the epicentre of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.

The worst-affected areas are in Douin, Marchand Dessalines and around Saint-Marc in the Artibonite region.

Doctors fear the outbreak could spread to the crowded tent camps, which are home to millions of people left homeless by the January 12 quake.

“It’s the severity of the outbreak that preoccupies us, and then the unconfirmed but reported high number of dead … all of that is being investigated,” Dr Michel Thieren, PAHO’s senior program managing officer in Haiti, said.

Haitian Health Department Director Dr Gabriel Thimote and Health Minister Alex Larsen said the victims ranged in age, but the young and the elderly appeared to be the most affected.

Dr Thimote said Haiti did not have a history of recent outbreaks of the lethal disease.

Cholera is an acute disease transmitted through contaminated water and food that causes watery diarrhea and severe dehydration and can kill within hours if not treated.

It’s the biggest health emergency to affect the poor Caribbean nation since the devastating January quake that killed up to 300,000 people and left more than 1.5 million people homeless.