[News] Haiti - Reports on Cholera Outbreak

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HAITI ACTION COMMITTEE REPORT ON CHOLERA OUTBREAK

CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN HAITI [updated Nov 8, 2010]
http://www.haitisolidarity.net/article.php?id=469

Cholera has killed 544 people in the valley along Haiti's Artibonite 
River, a rural region north of Haiti's capital. Another 9,123 [Al 
Jazeera English] are ill with the acute diarrheal disease, a 
bacterial infection which spreads when food or water is contaminated 
by human waste containing the organism. Health officials report the 
first signs the disease has spread to the country's capital, with 120 
suspected cases under investigation. Cholera causes profuse, watery, 
high volume diarrhea that is rapidly dehydrating and is especially 
life-threatening to young children, the elderly, and the 
undernourished. Without immediate medical treatment, people can die 
of dehydration.

UN officials are investigating raw sewage draining into a tributary 
of the Artibonite River from a local UN (MINUSTAH) base as a possible 
source of the deadly outbreak. 
<http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/10/2010102841412141967.html>Al 
Jazeera reports that the unit moved into the area in early October.

GEORGE BUSH SETS CRISIS IN MOTION

Cholera is a disease of poverty caused by lack of access to safe, 
clean water. Haiti has not had a documented case since the 1960s, but 
conditions in the lower Artibonite placed the region at high-risk for 
an outbreak of cholera even before the earthquake, according to 
<http://www.pih.org/news/entry/cholera-in-haiti-another-disease-of-poverty-in-a-traumatized-land/>Dr. 
Joia Mukherjee, chief medical officer for Partners in Health.

In 2008, Partners in Health working with the Robert Kennedy Center 
for Human Rights 
<http://www.haitisolidarity.net/downloads/Denial%20of%20the%20right%20to%20water%20in%20Haiti.pdf>documented 
that in 2000 the Bush Administration blocked vital 
<http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1348/1/>life-saving 
loans for water, sanitation and health from the Inter American 
Development Bank to the progressive government of President 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide. This deliberate political maneuver to 
undermine Haiti's democratic government had a direct impact on the 
city of St. Marc (population 220,000) and region of the lower 
Artibonite (population 600,000), among the areas slated for upgrading 
of the public water supply, depriving the people of their right to safe water.

Meanwhile, health authorities warn that while the outbreak remains 
concentrated in the Lower Artibonite region, it is inevitable that 
there will be some cases of cholera in Port-au-Prince. Five cases 
have already been reported in the city among people who had traveled 
there from the affected rural areas.

REFUGEE CAMP CONDITIONS RIPE FOR EPIDEMIC

Conditions in the capital's densely populated refugee camps could 
readily spawn a widespread cholera epidemic, as families interviewed 
recently by <http://ijdh.org/archives/10671>human rights groups have 
exposed critical shortages of clean water, sanitation, food and 
proper shelter. An <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgsytOBtqKA>Al 
Jazeera report this week featured video footage of 18 neglected 
latrines for 3,500 people. Four latrines in Accra Camp, where 17,000 
people reside, are so filthy no one will use them.  Clean water is 
only available to those who can purchase it; many camp residents have 
complained that Red Cross water makes them sick.

1.3 million Haitians living in the vast "tent" cities of 
Port-au-Prince are in the path of a rapidly progressive illness whose 
potential was identified in the immediate aftermath of the 
earthquake. Yet ten months later, with millions of dollars in donated 
aid relief, the proper infrastructure to provide safe living 
conditions in the refugee camps is utterly lacking. The rights of 
Haitian people to internationally mandated standards for displaced 
persons have been profoundly violated.

WHAT TO DO

In the short term, health workers and community activists are 
mobilizing to carry out intensive education and prevention campaigns 
to control the spread of cholera, and get clean water to refugee camps.

The fundamental issue, however, remains the political crisis which 
denies Haiti democracy and human rights, and underlies persistent 
impoverishment of Haiti's people. As long as the predatory agenda of 
the United States, foreign and elite interests prevails in Haiti, the 
rights of the vast majority of Haitians are threatened.

It is time to listen to the voices of Haiti's popular movement 
calling for an end to the UN military occupation, now entering its 
7th year. It is time to demand free and fair elections that include 
Haiti's largest political party, Fanmi Lavalas, and time to heed the 
widespread call for the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Donations to the 
<http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/HERF.html>Haiti Emergency 
Relief Fund will be forwarded to grassroots activists on the ground.
*******************************************

Cholera Outbreak Hits Port-au-Prince

By Stephen Lendman
http://countercurrents.org/lendman111110.htm

11 November, 2010
Countercurrents.org

On November 9, Haiti Libre said city authorities examined at least 
120 suspected cases, mostly in Cite Soleil, the extremely 
impoverished, densely populated community home to around 400,000. 
More vulnerable from Hurricane Tomas flooding, Partners in Health 
(PIH) called crowded camps "a potential flashpoint for a cholera 
outbreak. There is growing concern" about reported cases, thousands 
that may spread to many more.

In recent days, cases "continued to expand geographically. More 
(appeared) in Haiti's Central Plateau," PIH reporting 111 people 
hospitalized. Reported deaths also keep rising, likely much higher 
than Haiti's Health Ministry 544 figure on November 8. On November 9, 
Al Jazeera reported 583 deaths, the numbers increasing daily. The 
report also said:

"At least 115 cases of cholera, including the death of (at least) one 
person, have been registered in Haiti's capital, the most significant 
warning sign yet that the epidemic has spread from outlying areas to 
threaten hundreds of thousands of people in the city's camps."

Reporter Sebastian Walker said hospitals were overwhelmed, adding:

"Given the sheer number of cases that hospitals are receiving, it is 
simply not possible to conduct laboratory tests in order to give 100 
per cent overall confirmation that this is cholera."

Given the familiar symptoms, however, including severe diarrhea, 
vomiting and fever, there's little doubt about the cause. Over 9,000 
cases so far have been identified, mostly in the Artibonite area, 
north of Port-au-Prince.

Walker also said that "It is almost impossible to contain this 
disease in an environment like this. Port-au-Prince is a very 
overcrowded city with appalling sanitation infrastructure."

PIH founder, Dr. Paul Farmer, currently UN Deputy Special Envoy to 
Haiti, called for an aggressive investigation into the outbreak's 
cause. However, since the January earthquake, aid from most 
governments, UN bodies, and most NGOs has been meager and inadequate, 
despite billions of dollars pledged or donated. Washington promised 
over $1 billion, delivered nothing. Shamefully, most funding is 
earmarked for development, not affected Haitians on their own to 
survive, even after Hurricane Tomas and the cholera outbreak.

Suspicions are that UN Blue Helmets introduced it, tests confirming 
it's a South Asia strain (Vibrio cholerae serogroup 01, serotpe 
Ogama), not regional. Nepalese Peacekeepers are based in Artibonite, 
site of the initial outbreak. It's also Haiti's main rice-growing 
area, raising suspicions of deliberate sabotage, creating a greater 
potential for US imports, already advantaged by huge subsidies able 
to undercut home-grown crops.

For decades, Haiti experienced no cholera. Now an epidemic threatens, 
ThirdAge.com saying since late October, half of Haiti's 10 
administrative regions have been hit. In a matter of weeks, it's 
"suspected of infecting tens of thousands of people...." Tomas 
flooding forced an Artibonite River dam to release infected water, 
exacerbating the disease potential.

An earlier article provided more details, accessed through the following link:

<http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/11/haitis-cholera-outbreak-disease-of.html>http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/11/haitis-cholera-outbreak-disease-of.html

On November 9, Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres - 
MSF) said it was treating increasing numbers of suspected cholera 
cases in Port-au-Prince - so far, over 200 people, "suffering from 
severe diarrhea, a clinical symptom consistent with cholera."

MSF has four Port-au-Prince facilities, but only about 300 beds set 
aside for cholera. In the Artibonite area, its teams have treated 
over 6,400 cases. Overall, however, it warns that the limited access 
to safe drinking water and sanitation services pose an enormous risk 
for further spread. A widespread epidemic is feared. Potentially it 
could kill many thousands.

On November 10, Haiti: Operational Biosurveillance (HOB) said:

"Current official stats (confirm) more than 9,500 cases and 583 
fatalities. In some areas of Haiti, we have confirmation that 
in-patient statistics are under-reported by as much as 400%. There is 
no question of under-reporting."

At one-fourth the true number, it means around 38,000 affected 
people. Again, the totals grow daily, HOB believing "the true 
statistic to be closer to more than 50k based on the degree of 
under-reporting. This is an uncontrolled, uncontained epidemic of 
cholera that has exceeded public health capacity to investigate and 
assess every site reported and every sample received."

Evidence also suggests that it spread cross border to the Dominican 
Republic, HOB calling it "expected." It's confirmed in multiple 
Haitian sites, including Port-au-Prince, the northwest, and southern 
peninsula. Transmission modes include contaminated food and water as 
well as human-to-human spread. Its presence in overcrowded Cite 
Soleil has "dire implications" for the capital.

HOB reports unconfirmed cases in Port-au-Prince's Carrefour 
community. "Other areas have reported cholera such as Grand and Petit 
Goave....Suspect (cases) have been reported in Les Cayes, Jacmel, and 
several other rural communities in the southern peninsula. We assume 
it is highly likely the epidemic has indeed extended to" this area. 
HOB concludes that:

"The cholera epidemic in Haiti proceeds in an uncontrolled, 
uncontained fashion and will likely encompass all of Haiti within a 
matter of weeks."

"Eventual regionalization of cholera in the Caribbean is a strong 
possibility but not a certainty if the pandemic of the early 1990s is 
a guide." Haiti experienced no cholera for the past 50 years. It's 
present now under very suspicious circumstances.

Two Nations Delivering Promised Aid

Virtually ignored in Western media reports, Cuba stands out. For 
years, hundreds of its doctors, nurses, and other medical specialists 
have provided Haitians with primary care, surgeries, and other 
professional services. After the earthquake, they worked round the 
clock delivering exemplary aid, helped by Venezuelan funding.

Cuba's now playing a lead role in treating cholera victims. On 
November 4, Argentine Dr. Emiliano Mariscal, a graduate of Cuba's 
Latin American School of Medicine and member of its Haiti medical team, said:

active "work is going forward. The Cuban Medical Brigade (is) 
contributing to the fight against this terrible epidemic together 
with Haitian authorities."

He's one of 51 young Cuban graduates in the country, an expression of 
"solidarity and internationalism" at a time of need, "working arm in 
arm as one with (our) Cuban brothers and teachers." Cuban medical 
providers will remain active "during the cholera epidemic....Just ask 
any (Haitian about them) and you will see their faces blossom."

Venezuela also was one of the first countries to deliver post-quake 
aid, sending fuel, hundreds of tons of food, medical supplies, water 
purification systems, electrical generators, heavy equipment to 
remove rubble, and more. Venezuela also immediately cancelled Haiti's debt.

After the cholera outbreak, it sent more aid, including a Ministry of 
Health team, 10,000 doses of medication, and 4,500 intravenous drips 
and rehydration tablets, promising more will follow. Venezuela is 
working cooperatively with the Union of South American Nations 
(Unasur), a political and diplomatic multilateral regional body, each 
member country committed to contribute resources, supplies and services.

A Final Comment

A previous article explained that on November 28, first round 
legislative and presidential elections will be held. Democracy, 
however, will be absent because the nation's most popular party, 
Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas, and 13 others are excluded, the system 
rigged to "elect" Washington friendly choices.

Suppressing an orchestrated sham (a coup d'etat by other means), US 
Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice's September 24 Voice of America 
(America's propaganda to the world) article headlined, "Supporting 
Stability in Haiti," saying:

"Peaceful and credible elections and the transfer of power to a new 
government will be key milestones of Haiti's progress....(T)he United 
States and the United Nations continue to help Haiti recover and 
rebuild....The US along with the United Nations is committed to 
staying with the Haitian people and helping" them.

Clear evidence shows otherwise, a disgusting US-led effort to 
militarize the country, obstruct aid, and divert funding for 
development, not affected Haitians. Now, under impossible conditions, 
a force-fed sham election, spreading cholera, exacerbated by 
flooding, and no aid whatever from Washington. America is committed 
only to imperial wars, occupations, and exploitation. Ask Haitians. 
They'll explain.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at 
lendmanstephen at sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at 
sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with 
distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the 
Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and 
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

<http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour>http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/





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