Haiti: Kolera-epidemien forværres

Forfatter billede

Kolera-epidemien i Haiti forværres. Ifgl. sundhedsministeriet er der nu registreret 4.700 tilfælde og 337 dødsfald, oplyser den Panamerikanske Sundhedsorganisation, PAHO, tirsdag.

WASHINGTON, 2 November 2010: “Cases have been confirmed in three provinces. Suspect cases are being investigated in other provinces”, informed Jon Andrus, PAHO, in a press conference.

“At this point in time, the specific numbers of cases is less important than knowing where cases are occurring–their geographical distribution—so interventions can be targeted in communities where they are needed.”

“The reported case fatality rate among hospitalized patients has ranged from 2 per cent to 6,8 per cent. Put simply: many patients have arrived too late to health facilities to receive treatment that could have saved their lives.”

“We also now have some data on the age distribution of hospitalized patients, at least from the most affected department, Artibonite. Between October 20 and October 28, 88 per cent of hospitalized patients were 5 years old or older, meaning that only 12 per cent were younger than 5.”

“In addition, we have information that approximately half the deaths occur without ever reaching the hospital. They’re occurring in communities and neighbourhoods themselves.”