Haiti’s cholera epidemic has spread beyond its borders, with the first case of cholera in the Dominican Republic being announced by the country’s Public Health minister on Wednesday.
A 32-year old Haitian construction worker living in the Dominican Republic was diagnosed with cholera after he returned from a two-week stay in Haiti, according to Dominican Today.
The Dominican Republic government has made a request to its tourist and construction industry to temporarily not hire Haitian workers, according to the report.
In an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading, stricter procedures for people entering the country from Haiti will be put in place, and sanitary measures throughout the country are being established.
Haiti’s health ministry reported on Wednesday that over 1,100 people have died in Haiti as a result of cholera and 18,000 people are currently hospitalized. In its disaster relief plan, the United Nations accounts for 200,000 people in Haiti becoming infected with cholera.
In northern Haiti, clashes between police and protesters are compounding the problem. The protesters blame U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal for bringing the disease into the country and causing the cholera epidemic.
The clashes started on Monday when protesters hurdled stones at a police station. Roadblocks put up by protesters are hampering people’s ability to get to hospitals for care, according to the U.N.
“We call upon all involved in these clearly orchestrated demonstrations to stop immediately so national and international partners can continue to save lives with our response to the cholera,” Nigel Fisher, the U.N. Humanitarian coordinator in Haiti said on Tuesday.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs flights carrying medical supplies and personnel to Cap Haitian and Port-de-Paix have been canceled.
“Every day we lose, means hospitals go without supplies, patients go untreated, and people remain ignorant of the danger they are facing. It is vital that everything possible is done to contain this outbreak in Cap Haitien while we still can—but this is very difficult in the current environment,” said Fisher.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by bacteria that’s transmitted via contaminated food or water. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to death due to dehydration.
A 32-year old Haitian construction worker living in the Dominican Republic was diagnosed with cholera after he returned from a two-week stay in Haiti, according to Dominican Today.
The Dominican Republic government has made a request to its tourist and construction industry to temporarily not hire Haitian workers, according to the report.
In an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading, stricter procedures for people entering the country from Haiti will be put in place, and sanitary measures throughout the country are being established.
Haiti’s health ministry reported on Wednesday that over 1,100 people have died in Haiti as a result of cholera and 18,000 people are currently hospitalized. In its disaster relief plan, the United Nations accounts for 200,000 people in Haiti becoming infected with cholera.
In northern Haiti, clashes between police and protesters are compounding the problem. The protesters blame U.N. peacekeepers from Nepal for bringing the disease into the country and causing the cholera epidemic.
The clashes started on Monday when protesters hurdled stones at a police station. Roadblocks put up by protesters are hampering people’s ability to get to hospitals for care, according to the U.N.
“We call upon all involved in these clearly orchestrated demonstrations to stop immediately so national and international partners can continue to save lives with our response to the cholera,” Nigel Fisher, the U.N. Humanitarian coordinator in Haiti said on Tuesday.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs flights carrying medical supplies and personnel to Cap Haitian and Port-de-Paix have been canceled.
“Every day we lose, means hospitals go without supplies, patients go untreated, and people remain ignorant of the danger they are facing. It is vital that everything possible is done to contain this outbreak in Cap Haitien while we still can—but this is very difficult in the current environment,” said Fisher.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by bacteria that’s transmitted via contaminated food or water. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to death due to dehydration.
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