Physical Wellness

Haiti Cholera Outbreak Takes 132 Lives In 2014

By Kamal Nayan | Update Date: Nov 27, 2014 07:35 PM EST

Haiti cholera epidemic has taken 132 people and may have infected nearly 15,000 others so far, according to a UN agency report. 

Cholera in Haiti started in 2010 and  "an unacceptable number of people have been affected, with nearly 712,330 suspected cases and an estimated 8,655 deaths," the report by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, citing Haiti's public health ministry.

According to the report, this year, there may have been suspected 14,869 cases and 132 deaths recorded. 

Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres said there was a lack of beds for patients to recover.

"More than 2,000 people presenting symptoms of cholera needed emergency hospitalization since mid-October in Port-au-Prince," MSF said in a press release.

"A majority of the Haitian population remain exposed to cholera due to lack of access to clean water and latrines, the treatment capacity of the sick is still inadequate," MSF said.

"Patients come to us in critical condition as there is no system in place to provide urgent care, despite the existence of a national plan for the elimination of cholera, added Oliver Schulz, head of MSF in Haiti in the press release. 

Haiti's health system still can't meet the needs of cholera patients, MSF added. 

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