The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the cholera outbreak has already caused 288 deaths in Haiti.​​

Geneva, December 16 (RHC)-- The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the cholera outbreak has already caused 288 deaths in Haiti.  The Haitian Health Ministry additionally reported that 12,574 people infected with cholera needed medical attention. 

Authorities also warned of an increase in suspected cases in this cholera outbreak declared in early October. Suspected cases totaled 13,672 as of December 6th, of which 1,193 have been already confirmed.  All ten regions of Haiti have reported cholera cases over the last two months. The department of Ouest has 89 percent of the reported cases. 

The WHO and the International Coordinating Group for Vaccine Supply (ICG) provided the Haitian government with 1.17 million doses of a vaccine against the disease.  The vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin in the coming days and will target Cite Soleil, Delmas, Tabarre, Carrefour and Port-au-Prince, in the West department, along with Mirebalais, in the Center department.

WHO recommends vaccination of the population and has called for extreme hygienic measures to prevent infection. The international organization recommends water, sanitation and hygiene interventions to prevent the spread of the waterborne disease.