HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

October 25, 2010. Government Warning Issued for Dominican Republic

SOURCE: U.S. Department of State

U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo issued the following Warden Message on October 22:

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is issuing this Warden Message to alert U.S. citizens that The Ministry of Health in Haiti has issued a statement that the diarrhea outbreak in the Artibonite region is due to cholera.

Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholera. The infection is generally mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe. Common symptoms may include watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. The most important treatment is rehydration, which can almost always be accomplished with general oral rehydration and special oral rehydration solutions designed to be rapidly absorbed from the intestine.

A person can become infected with cholera by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Since the source of contamination is usually feces of an infected person, the disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. There is no cholera vaccine currently available in the USA, and vaccination is not generally recommended. Antibiotics are generally not indicated. Although diarrhea can be dramatic, leading to dehydration and shock, the U.S. Government has not experienced any significant cholera illnesses despite our people being stationed in endemic areas, e.g., Bangladesh.

American citizens are advised to avoid the Artibonite area and should monitor media coverage to stay abreast of the situation as it develops. U.S. citizens are also advised to maintain an increased level of vigilance when traveling in and around Port-au-Prince.

No tap water should be considered safe. Drink canned, boxed, or commercially bottled carbonated water and drinks. Eat foods that are well-cooked and served steaming hot.