After Tropical Storm Isaac, Haiti Faces Renewed Cholera Threat

August 30, 2012 from Al Jazeera English

Before it struck the US Gulf Coast as a hurricane, Isaac blew through southern Haiti, leaving at least two dozen dead and concerns the rains it brought could lead to an uptick in cholera cases. Medicins Sans Frontieres says it will be difficult to tie specific cases to Isaac, but with seasonal rains arriving with force, there's more likelihood of the disease spreading further. Meanwhile MSF is preparing for the government to take a larger role in caring for cholera patients. Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports from Cite Soleil.

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Haiti

Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the i... Explore this topic

Cholera

Cholera is an infection in the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person, including o... Explore this topic

Tropical Storm Isaac

The National Hurricane Center began tracking a tropical wave off the coast of Africa on August 17, 2012. It started to become more concentrated on August 18, with further organization beginning later that day as it headed into favorable environmental conditions for development... Explore this topic

Médecins Sans Frontières

Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, is a French secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters are in Genev... Explore this topic

Waterborne diseases

Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms that most commonly are transmitted in contaminated fresh water. Infection commonly results during bathing, washing, drinking, in the preparation of food, or the consumption of food thus infected. Various forms of wate... Explore this topic

Poverty in Haiti

With a Gross Domestic Product estimate of US$6.56 billion in 2009, Haiti is routinely regarded as one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere. Based on estimates by the World Bank in 2005, the percentage of people living below the US$1 per day poverty line in Haiti is... Explore this topic

Water supply

Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organizations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Irrigation is covered separately. Explore this topic

Disease

מחלה היא פגיעה בגופו של יצור חי, הגורמת לתפקוד לקוי של הגוף או הנפש. מחלה, בהגדרתה הביולוגית היא הפרה של תהליך ההומיאוסטזיס. במקרים רבים למחלה יש הן ביטוי פיזי-גופני והן ביטוי נפשי. מחלות יכולות להיגרם כתוצאה מגורם פנימי, כגון פגם גנטי או שינוי כרוני בגוף, או כתגובה לגורמים חי... Explore this topic

2010 Haiti Earthquake

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicenter near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. By 24 January,... Explore this topic

Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera English is an international 24-hour English-language news and current affairs TV channel headquartered in Doha, Qatar. It is the sister channel of the Arabic-language Al Jazeera. The station broadcasts news features and analysis, documentaries, live debates, current... Explore this topic

Also See

Haiti

Cholera

Tropical Storm Isaac

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