Haiti faces cholera crisis after hurricane

Haiti is facing a mounting public health crisis less than a week after Hurricane Matthew slammed into the country and killed at least 1,000 people.

People are being treated at the cholera treatment center at the hospital after Hurricane Matthew passes in Jeremie, Haiti, October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins — RTSRIR6

Cases of cholera have soared after the storm destroyed homes and knocked out supplies of clean food and water, and there are warnings the disease could spread.

On Sunday morning there were 39 cases of the waterborne illness at the country's Port-a-Piment hospital, according to its medical director Missole Antoine.

By early afternoon, there were nearly 60, and four people had died of the disease.

"That number is going to rise," said Ms Antoine, as she rushed between patients laid out on the floor. 

The hospital is operating without a car or an ambulance and new patients are arriving every 10 or 15 minutes, brought on motorcycles and hauled inside by relatives, some covered with vomit from their sick family members.

Parents were seen comforting young children hooked up to drips and lying on makeshift camp beds in bare shelters, while others cradled children so weak they were unable to hold up their heads. 

"In terms of destruction — environmental and agricultural — I can tell you 2016 is worse than 2010," he added, referring to the 2010 earthquake from which Haiti still has not recovered.

The Dutch government is sending a navy ship to deliver food, water and shelters and to ensure other aid vessels can dock in Haiti's ports and waterways.

After slamming into Haiti, Hurricane Matthew killed at least 17 people in the US.

Serious damage and flooding was caused to parts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina and millions of homes were evacuated.

Подписывайтесь на канал