Some can be infected but have no symptoms or impacts, however, they can still pass it onto others
Very common after natural disasters when water management schemes are impacted
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Overview of Cholera in Haiti
7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010
No cholera previously for 100 years
The outbreak didn't begin until 10 months after the earthquake
80,000 Haitians have been infected killing 9,000
Caused by UN peacekeepers deployed from Nepal
The epicentre was 16 miles west of Port-au-Prince
3.5 million people live in the area that was shaken
Frequently vulnerable to tropical cyclones and earthquakes
4 hurricanes in the summer of 2008
Precipitation and temperatures were above average in 2010 which exacerbated the destroyed water and sanitation infrastructure
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Environmental factors contributing to the outbreak
Rainy seasons and hurricanes cause a temporary period of bad health and deaths
Haiti is at an increased risk of cholera spreading due to climate change
IPCC says that climate change will also increase the impact and frequency of tropical cyclones and other extreme weather events
Dead bodies were buried in the environment in mass heaps which decomposed and sometimes contaminated more water sources
Landslides caused flooding downstream causing more transmission
Shortages of potable water and fuel before the disaster let alone after
Cholera grow better in the moist, hot conditions of Haiti
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Human factors contributing to the outbreak
Morgue facilities were overwhelmed and so many bodies were laid out in the streets and in mass graves
Low construction standards with no building codes and so many buildings collapsed during the earthquake and so the people were left with no shelter or places to clean after the earthquake
Lack of immunity
Malnutrition and access to clean water meant that it was hard to recover from cholera increasing the spread
Ranked 147th out of 147 for water security
37% of Haitians lack access to adequate drinking water
83% lack sanitation facilities
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Impacts of Cholera in Haiti
Caused riots against the UN as the UN had brought cholera to Haiti from Nepal and Haiti didn't previously have the disease
The UN shot 5 protestors which caused more anger among the Haitian population
Police fired tear gas
More spikes of cholera came in 2016 following Hurricane Matthew
Food insecurity
Even worse water sources
Health services were stretched
Social inequality between those that could and couldn't afford health care
Loss of the workforce
Healthcare challenged traditional views
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Strategies to reduce the impacts
Vaccination
2013
OCV - Oral Cholera Vaccination
2 main regions - Cerca Caravajal & Petite Anse
Not backed by the WHO - their opinion has changed since
65% success rate for 5 years
UN
Accepted responsibility in 2016 - led to more coordination
67% decrease in cases 12 months after
Rapid response framework
13 teams & 60 support/mobile teams
investigated the source and set up a perimeter
helped educate families on how to prevent the spread
chlorination points
OCV support
Long-term sanitation - helped to rebuild infrastructure after hurricane
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