Haiti - Epidemic : Projection 100,000 people infected, Government strategy
For those who develop symptoms, they remain mild to moderate in 80% of cases, while in approximately 20% of cases, acute watery diarrhea, accompanied by severe dehydration, develops. Without treatment, it can cause death. The incubation period of the disease can vary depending on the subjects of 1 to 5 days.
Taking the latest figures (provisional assessment) of the Ministry of Health dated of October 29, 2010, 4.714 people are hospitalized and suffering from cholera (25% of people with symptoms), this means that at least 14,000 people are infected "without getting sick" and are as many mobile vectors of the disease, which can potentially infect thousands of others (for 7 to 14 days, the duration of the total elimination of the bacillus of cholera).
We better understand the concern of health organizations, both local and international efforts and the considerable resources deployed, far beyond the Artibonite. On this subject, the Ministry for the Public health, revealed its strategy to respond to a national epidemic based on an assumption of 100,000 infected people (over one year.) requiring health services in Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite (200,000 in the country).
National Epidemic Response Strategy
The Example of Metropolitan Port-au-Prince
Ministry of Public Health and Population
with the technical collaboration of PAHO/WHO, UNFPA,
and other agencies of the United Nations System
Description of the Strategy
The national response strategy for the cholera epidemic involves the following three levels:
This strategy is illustrated by the example of Port-au-Prince.
Projection: 100,000 cases in need of health services in Port-au-Prince and Artibonite (~200 000 in the country)
Level 1. Protection of families
Level 2. Reinforcement of 80 health centers in the Metropolitan Area
Level 3. Management of severe cases
To adequately implement this strategy, an operations center will be set up and put into operation to ensure management, supervision, and control.