Health authorities' leadership reduces cholera deaths in Haiti

摘要

1-5 years after the first cases of cholera were reported in Haiti, 534647 people have been infected and 7091 killed.We report on how the motivation and capacity of decentralised health authorities to lead the response and coordination of activities in one department were able to contain quickly a major cholera outbreak and reduce mortality.Cholera peaked in the northwest department in December, 2010. The capacity to respond to the epidemic was low and case fatality rates exceeded 20% in some areas. A major spike in cases occurred again in July, 2011; 1776 cases of cholera were identified and 1186 patients were admitted to hospital in Port-de-Paix, the major city of the department.