International

United Nations on Cholera Studies: "we stick to the study by experts appointed by the UN"

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A defiant spokesman for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Vincenzo Pugliesse, tried on Thursday, to minimize the furthering of a report by a group of scientist released this week linking the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in Haiti to UN soldiers from Nepal.

The new study was realized by a group of Nepalese, Danish and Americans at the "Translational Genomics Research Institute" in Arizona (United States) and have established by the use of methods of gene sequences, comparing the DNA of different strains of Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, that the strain in Haiti is the same strain as that found in Nepal.

MINUSTAH is aware of this report, Vincenzo Pugliesse said, but adheres to the recommendations of that which was developed by a group of "experts" appointed by the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon, to investigate the origin of the epidemic in the country.

"Other experts will comment further and will give other explanations but we follow the recommendations of the report was released by the group of experts appointed by the Secretary-General, "said Pugliesse.

According to the report from the UN, MINUSTAH has no comment on the origin of the cholera. Many sectors have joked about the report of the experts appointed by the UN.

"The UN is involved and is still working with the UN's investigators," Vincenzo Pugliesse said as he also denied reports that UN soldiers have spilled fecal matter into the river in the Central Plateau, Guayamouc River in Hinche.

Pugliesse points to the circumstantial claim that the camp in Hinche has been equipped since June 15, 2011 with a treatment plant and disposal of sewage and waste that are inside the camp. He said that sewage and waste are discharged into the plant three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Under no circumstances will the sewage or other waste is transported outside the camp, he wishes for the public to believe.

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Source: Agence Haitienne de Presse