Cholera Eruption in Haiti

This tiny island nation in the Caribbean that is the homeland to thousands of people that live in slums and have poor sanitary conditions have fallen prey to this often deadly disease. Diarrhea and vomiting and severe dehydration can kill within 24 hours if left untreated. Antibiotics. are needed to treat this disease. The head of Haiti’s health Ministry says 259 people are now known to have died from cholera.
So far most of the cholera outbreak has been in cities and towns in the countryside and not had spread to the capitol of Port-au-Prince. Many of the people are still living in tent cities since the earthquake and are vulnerable to infection due to the unsanitary conditions.
Cholera is caused by bacteria transmitted through contaminated food or water. Soap and other basic hygiene items, including buckets with lids to prevent clean water from being contaminated are being distributed by the UN’s Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.