200,000 People in Haiti Will Show Symptoms of Cholera !!!

November 12, 2010 by Nataly in Stories

img.source http://media.washtimes.com/

The United Nations has appealed for nearly $164m to battle a three-week old growing cholera epidemic in Haiti, which has caused 700 people have died so far.

Overall, the epidemic is worsening and it is expected “up to 200,000 people to show symptoms of cholera, ranging from mild diarrhea to the most severe dehydration,” aid agencies say.

“We hope we can get this otherwise all our efforts will be overrun by the epidemic,” a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Elisabeth Byrs.

World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report that over 11,000 Haitians have been admitted to hospital and about 725 have died since last month when the cholera outbreak was confirmed. Gregory Hartl, WHO Spokesman, said that the current fatality rate of 6.5 percent was far higher than it should be. “Cholera, now that it is in Haiti, probably the bacteria will be there for a number of years to come. It will not go away. But, the goal of this has to be to reduce the public health impact of the outbreak,” Hartl said.

According to WHO officials, the donated money will be used to buy more medical, water purification and other equipment and also to bring in additional doctors.