The Worst Not Over

Little more than a month after cholera first appeared in an already battered Haiti, its government now reports over 900 casualties, with 14,000 more infected. Now that the fast-spreading bacteria is in the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince, experts fear the death total will see a dramatic spike.

Cholera, a bacteria causing severe diarrhea, vomiting, leg cramps, and eventually dehydration and shock, hasn't been in Haiti in fifty years, making knowledge of the illness another reason for concern.

"It's not over; it's not going to be pretty," says Dr. Helene Carabin, an Infectious Diseases epidemiologist and an associate professor at the College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma. "No one knows what's going to happen next."

The World Health Organization says the bacteria could remain in the country for "the next several years," and last week's Hurricane Tomas will only further endanger Haitian citizens to the epidemic.

"They [Haitians] have no choice but to use whatever rainwater they find, and that could be contaminated water," Dr. Alan McPherson said. "It might be contaminated, but it's either that or be completely dehydrated."

Friday the United Nations pledged $164 million to the cholera relief effort in Haiti, but McPherson, a historian and Latin American studies professor at OU, said much will have to be done before the country finds any form of stability.


Dr. Alan McPherson on steps to Haitian stability.

McPherson says the potential danger in Port-au-Prince is especially alarming.


Dr. Alan McPherson voicing concerns about future of Port-au-Prince.


The country that has already lost tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants along with much of its infrastructure looks to be headed into an even darker chapter, and it is especially important to help Haiti through it, McPherson says.

Last year, OU organization Global Haiti Initiative raised money for earthquake victims in Haiti, but the group has since disbanded. Along with writing congressmen, McPherson suggests starting local relief organizations like the Global Haiti Initiative to help with Haiti's newest problem.


Dr. Alan McPherson offering tangible ways to help Haitians.