Outbreak

Cholera Kills Scores in Haiti

Officials worry it will hit earthquake victim camps.

As if Haiti needed another natural enemy. On Friday, President Rene Preval confirmed that, for the first time in a century, Haiti has been struck by a cholera outbreak. At least 196 people have died, and more than 2,600 have been checked into overcrowded hospitals. Some patients are reportedly getting sick after drinking local canal water. The disease, which causes massive dehydration, diarrhea, and vomiting is currently concentrated in the northern city of Saint-Marc. But Preval and health workers are concerned the disease could spread to the camps of earthquake survivors in Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, hospitals in the Saint-Marc area are running low on supplies and are trying to send patients to nearby hospitals.