Health officials in Haiti today confirmed that a first-in-decades outbreak of cholera has struck in the Lower Artibonite region just north of Port-au-Prince. So far doctors report the disease has killed around 140 people, and another 1,526 people are infected.
Imogen Wall, the UN humanitarian spokeswoman in Haiti said this morning that “This is a situation that’s developed very quickly. It’s only been 48 hours and we’ve already got 138 deaths confirmed.” The response to the outbreak has thus far been led by a number of international aid organizations whose primary goal is to save those stricken with the disease and prevent further infections by providing purified water.
Cholera is transmitted though contaminated water and causes violent vomiting and diarrhea. It can kill healthy adults in a matter of hours by causing severe dehydration and is particularly fatal for children.
The Haitian government has not yet issued an official statement on the outbreak.
