2010.11.04 - Responding to Haiti Cholera outbreak

Not even recovered from the massive earthquake earlier this year, Haiti has yet to face another catastrophe. Already more than 300 people have died and close to 5,000 taken to the hospital due of the cholera outbreak, first noted on October 20th. Aid agencies in Haiti are trying to contain the spread of cholera after the first cases were confirmed in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

IMRES has responded immediately to this outbreak by shipping essential supplies to treat cholera, such as various IV liquids, Oral Rehydration Salts and several antibiotics, but also logistics items, such as buckets, body bags and disinfectants. Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by bacteria transmitted through contaminated water or food. It causes diarrhoea, vomiting, severe rehydration and can kill quickly, although mostly it can easily be treated with antibiotics. Such an outbreak can never be anticipated on, but IMRES was able to send these supplies directly from stock from our warehouse in the Netherlands.

In the meantime, IMRES is also keeping a close eye at the disaster on the other end of the world, where an earthquake followed by a tsunami and volcano eruptions is affecting Indonesia. We have already started preparing our emergency kits (IEHKs) so that these would be available for immediate dispatch.