Cholera epidemic breaks loose in northern Haiti

Many killed and hundreds more await treatment amid a cholera epidemic in Haiti.

PORT-AU-PRINCE: The recent outbreak of a cholera epidemic has claimed a total of 138 lives and left another 1,500 people infected over the last few days in quake-hit Haiti.

In addition, Haitian health authorities have informed the World Health Organisation that an alarming 1,526 cases have been reported (with most being centered north of the capital), in what  may be the country's biggest medical crisis since the January 12 earthquake.

The outbreak has so far not yet hit Port-au-Prince, which was ravaged by a 7.0 earthquake in January. Haiti is still struggling to rebuild after the devastating quake, with hundreds of thousands of people crammed into makeshift tent cities in the ruins of the capital.

The influx of patients have left hospitals and medical centers in the regions overwhelmed and numerous deaths have been registered, due to which a large number of sick patients had to be evacuated to other centers, said Gabriel Timothe, director general of the Haitian health ministry. The Haitian health authorities, aided by other international agencies, have swung into action, mobilising medical personnel to try to contain the spread of the disease and treat the infected.

For months, aid agencies have expressed their growing concern over the fact that any outbreak of disease could spread rapidly due to the unsanitary conditions in the camps where people have little access to clean water. Cholera, in particular, may be enhanced in severity by the short incubation period of two hours to five days.

The World Health Organization says on its website that "cholera is an extremely virulent disease. It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours."  Cholera is caused by a comma-shaped bacterium called Vibrio Cholerae, transmitted through water or food that has typically been contaminated by human fecal matter. It causes serious diarrhea and vomiting, leading to dehydration. It is easily treatable by rehydration and antibiotics. But with a short incubation period, it can be fatal if not treated in time. There are an estimated three to five million cholera cases every year, with about 100,000 to 120,000 deaths.