International
U.S. CDC Determines Source of Cholera to be MINUSTAH Camp
- Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9:22 PM
ATLANTA, USA - The July issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the United States Center for Disease Control and Precention (CDC) suggests the United Nations brought cholera to Haiti.
The CDC found that the cholera outbreak that began on October 18 in the town of Meille, Haïti.
The first hospitalized patients were members of a family in the village that hosted a camp for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The soldiers arrived on October 9, 12 and 16.
Epidemiologist found a pipe discharging refuse from the camp into a river. Villagers used water from this stream for cooking and drinking.
3 days later on October 21, the epidemic was observed in Mirebalais, where in inhabitants drew water from the rivers because the water supply network was being repaired.
The source was determined through an investigation of a nearby prison where 34 cases and 4 deaths were reported and found to be of no other cause than from the water in the stream.
On October 31, it was observed that sanitary deficiencies in the camp had been corrected and at the same time, the daily incidence of cholera began to decrease. It would the regain strength on November 30.
Cholera had not been detected in Haiti for generations before October 2010. Today the disease has killed more than 5,400.
Related 06.21.2011: Martelly Launches Health Week in Haiti, Travels to U.S. for Routine Check-up
Related 06.15.2011: Ministry of Public Health Cartoons Aimed at Fighting Cholera [VIDEO]
Related 04.12.2011: Study: U.N. Projections of Cholera Inaccurate
Related 04.12.2011: Christian Churches Denounce Attacks against Voudouist over Cholera
Related 12.07.2010: La MINUSTAH y la epidemia
Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
