Disease Case Study HAITI CHOLERA Flashcards
(8 cards)
Background of Haiti
149th out of 182 countries on HDI index
60% living below poverty line
2010 earthquake- 7.0 magnitude, killed 230,000 people, 1.6 million displaced
Geographical areas covered by the hazard
3 million affected
Geographically worst hit- capital city Port-au-prince- 25km away from epicentre
Port-au-prince- vulnerable due to high density population and poorly constructed buildings- shanty towns-70% buildings collapsed
How did the hazard influenced risk and outbreak of cholera
Earthquake displaced 1.6 million people- overcrowding in emergency camps causing disease to spread rapidly
As people move around due to earthquake- disease diffusion
Poor sanitation no access to clean drinking water- cholera
Ultimate reason for cholera entering Haiti is due to the earthquake- UN aid workers coming from Nepal brought the cholera- not endemic
Earthquake damaged much of the infrastructure- can’t tackle disease in first place
Environmental factors influencing spread of cholera
Climate causal hypothesis
Due to La Niña:
Haiti experienced severe flooding due to hurricanes and rainy seasons in 2010- exacerbating contamination of water sources- sanitation overspill
Warm water temperature- warm tropical climate several months prior the earthquake- provided conditions for bacteria to thrive
Human factors affecting the spread of cholera
UN- aid workers causing relocation diffusion from Nepal to Haiti
High population density in emergency camps- 1.6 million people
Poor living conditions- only 58% have access to clean drinking water- 19% have proper sanitation
Lack of public awareness
58% are malnourished- more susceptible to disease
Low vaccination supplies globally
Cholera was not endemic- no natural immunity
Impact of disease on residential population
780,000 cases of cholera- 9100 cholera related deaths
1.6 million people displaced
80% population living in poverty 3 years after outbreak
Unemployment rate increased to 40.6% after the outbreak
GDP shrinked by 5.1%
Long term trauma- child left parentless
Strategies used to minimise impacts of cholera outbreak- ST
UN emergency response- 80% cases has a response team arrive within 48hrs
British Red Cross- delivered water to 300,000 people in camps
Vaccination programme- 600,000 people- done by Red Cross
1.2 million received education on cholera prevention
British Red Cross- treated 18,000 people and 10,000 foreign medical workers arrived within the first year
1.3 million water purification tablets were distributed
Strategies used to minimise impacts of cholera outbreak- LT
Improved sanitation- provision of infrastructure for clean water benefited 93,000
Vaccination programs
National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera- 10 years plan- targeting water, sanitation, healthcare and education
Mobile Cholera Unit- 6 mobile units to reach people in remote regions
National sanitation campaign- long term effort to educate people
