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Haiti

Haiti: Medical Teams International Mobilizes Medical Volunteers to Battle Spreading Cholera

11/6/2010 12:24:38 PM

(PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 6, 2010)-Hurricane Tomas dumped several inches of rain on Haiti. "Haiti is under water," reported Ted Steinhauer, Medical Teams International country director.

The resulting flooding is spreading cholera in areas in northwest Haiti once thought to be under control. Officials reported 550 new cases of cholera.

Medical Teams International began to mobilize medical volunteers today to LaPointe Hospital to help stop the spread of cholera. Roads are impassable between Port-au-Prince and Saint Marc, so medical volunteers and life-saving medicines are being transported by air.

Dr. Joe Markee, from Vancouver, Wash., one of our volunteers and partners, also has a Haiti Foundation of Hope in Terre Blanche. He is assessing the needs in their area. If any of their team members are needed in the cholera-prone areas, they will be transferred to help as well.

Author: Megan Streng