Cholera Outbreak

Just when we thought Haiti was getting a short break from tragedy, a cholera epidemic breaks out. Today when Donald took a man to the hospital for surgery he was shocked and appalled to see patients filling the parking lot lying on the ground. Don said the bodies were lined up right next to each other. He said he had never seen so many people there and estimated there to be over 1,000. We found out later it was because of a cholera epidemic and that hospital was one of many full of patients dying of the disease. According to MSNBC the "unofficial count based on information from doctors" is 135 dead and the number of those infected is 1,500. Thankfully the disease hasn't reached the quake-refuge camps in Port-au-Prince but aid agencies are carefully monitoring it because of the unsanitary conditions in the camps. Cholera spreads through contaminated water and also through food that has been in contact with the unclean water. The infected patients mainly complained of diarrhea, vomiting, and fever which leads to dehydration. The disease if untreated can be fatal in a small amount of time. Haiti needs our prayers! Pray for the families affected by this outbreak and pray that they're able to contain it and that it doesn't spread further.


*Photo from Associated Press