PAHO warns of an increase in cholera cases in Haiti in recent days

MADRID, 27 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported an increase in cholera cases in Haiti since the outbreak was declared in early October, exceeding 2,200 suspected cases.

"Since the notification of the first two confirmed cases of cholera (...) in Port-au-Prince on October 2, the Haitian Ministry of Health has reported as of October 23 a total of 2,243 suspected cases, including 219 confirmed cases, and 55 reported deaths", collects the PAHO statement published this Tuesday.

The organization reports, in turn, that of the total number of suspected cases reported, 58 percent are men. Meanwhile, 53 percent are under 20 years old.

The age group with the highest number of cases is that of children aged 1 to 4 years, followed by children aged 5 to 9 years.

Most of the cases -- 97 percent -- are in the Ouest region, where the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, is located. The districts of Cité Soleil and Port-au-Prince account for 80 percent of the province's total cases.

In addition, 271 suspected cases have been reported in the capital's prison, of which 12 have already been confirmed. There have also been 14 deaths.

The Dominican Republic reported on October 20 the first imported case of cholera in the country. The patient is a woman of Haitian nationality from Port-au-Prince.

PAHO has reiterated to member states to continue to maintain vigilance against cholera in order to detect suspected cases early and thus prevent the spread of the virus. With timely and proper treatment, the case fatality rate for hospitalized patients is less than 1 percent, the health agency reports.

In this sense, PAHO has urged the authorities to guarantee adequate basic sanitation conditions, access to drinking water, and hygiene measures.

Meanwhile, he has ruled out imposing quarantines to limit the movement of people or the seizure of goods because "they are unnecessary and ineffective in controlling the spread of cholera."