Haiti - Epidemic : First case of cholera in Cité Soleil ?
We learn from knowledgeable sources, that the clinic "The Samaritan's Purse" in Cite Soleil, Wednesday morning treated, a patient who presented symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. Diarrheal diseases due to unsanitary conditions are common and strong increase in Cite Soleil for diseases other than cholera. However, in this precise case, the diagnosis of cholera was establishes by a doctor experienced in tropical medicine which ensures that the clinical symptoms of the patient correspond in any point to those defined by WHO and that it is indeed a case of cholera.
What is most worrying is that this patient, unlike the 5 cases of Port-au-Prince reported by MSF (one of which was confirmed by the government) is not a person from the Artibonite or having traveled to an infected area. It is established that such person has not been out of Cité Soleil and it is a local case of disease transmission inside Cité Soleil.
If this case is confirmed by government health authorities, this will confirm the existence of an outbreak of infection independently, anywhere in the country's largest slum, the worst scenario envisaged.
Several information coming from the HEAS (Haiti Epidemic Advisory System), leaves think that the cholera epidemic moves towards the south along the nationale # 1 and approaches the Northern periphery of Port with-Prince. The existence of case would confirm this information.
Hope that health authorities are promptly update on this case and that the government shall promptly, instead of making the withholding of information on the extent of the epidemic,for reasons more often political than medical.
