Cholera Surveillance during the Haiti Epidemic — The First 2 Years

Abstract

A review of NCSS data shows that during the first 2 years of the cholera epidemic in Haiti, the cumulative attack rate was 6.1%, with cases reported in all 10 departments. Within 3 months after the first case was reported, there was a downward trend in mortality, with a 14-day case fatality rate of 1.0% or less in most areas.

Geographical Perspectives on Epidemic Transmission of Cholera in Haiti, October 2010 Through March 2013

“…Upstream, between Mirebalais and the Artibonite delta, very few cases were initially reported. While downstream and coastal plain locations were significant risk factors for the contraction of cholera, proximity to the town of Mirebelais was not (Barzilay et al 2013).…”

“…In 2010, Haiti accounted for 57 percent of the world's total cholera cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) and 53 percent of all cholera deaths. In 2011 the situation was little changed: 58 percent of the world's cholera cases and 37 percent of deaths reported to WHO were in Haiti (Barzilay et al 2013). The outbreak continues, albeit at a much lower level.…”

“…Evidence of serotype switching has also been found. This phenomenon is commonly driven by growing herd immunity to the dominant serotype, rendering people susceptible to re-infection with a new serotype (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2012; Barzilay et al 2013). …”

Environmental Surveillance for Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in Surface Waters of Haiti

“…3 During the first 2 years of the outbreak, more than 600,000 cases of cholera were reported, with more than 7,000 deaths. 4 Because of the absence of reported cholera outbreaks in Haiti before 2010, there is little information on the potential presence of toxigenic V. cholerae in surface waters in Haiti beyond detections reported during the acute phase of the 2010 outbreak and an environmental surveillance study performed in the Ouest Department in Haiti. 5,6 Vibrio cholerae is present in the environment both as freeliving cells and attached to chitinous exoskeletons of zooplankton as a commensal of copepods.…”

O terramoto no Haiti (12 de janeiro de 2010): análise na perspetiva da Medicina de catástrofe: do impacto à atualidade

“…As ações médicas orientadoras da missão francesa eram (Fuilla, 2011): A estes números somam-se ainda 16 vítimas resgatadas pelas equipas USAR francesas (Fontanille, 2011;Fuilla, 2011;Grünewald & Renaudin, 2010), mais de 250 EVASAN para as Antilhas (Fontanille, 2011;Fuilla, 2011) (Barzilay et al, 2013;Stratton, 2013;Vertefeuille et al, 2013).…”