HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

October 22, 2010. More than 100 dead in possible cholera outbreak in Haiti

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

At least 135 people have died in a suspected cholera outbreak, according to aid officials on October 22nd. There are more than 1,500 infected people. The outbreak has been reported in the rural Artibonite region, where thousands of quake refugees are now living. Local aid workers say they have been concerned since the January 2010 earthquake of sanitation for homeless survivors. Authorities suspect the disease is cholera, but are waiting for lab results to confirm the outbreak. If confirmed, this will be the first cholera outbreak in the country for decades and authorities feel it could spread to Port-au-Prince.

Cholera is a waterborne bacterial infection spread through contaminated water; it causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration and death within hours. Treatment involves administering a salt and sugar-based rehydration serum.