Caritas Internationalis in response to Haiti cholera scare

The outbreak is centered on the Lower Artibonite region, north of the capital Port-au-Prince, though cases were also reported in the Central Plateau area.

The Communications Director for the Vatican’s humanitarian consortium, Caritas Internationalis, Patrick Nicholson says Caritas was already in the area before the outbreak.

"Caritas works throughout Haiti and it is in the area...affected by the outbreak," said Nichols, adding that Caritas has been providing basic health care.

Many of the sick have converged on St. Nicholas hospital in the seaside city of St. Marc, where hundreds of dehydrated patients lay on blankets in a parking lot with IVs in their arms as they waited for treatment.

According to the WHO, cholera is an easily treatable disease that, if left untreated, can kill quickly following the onset of symptoms.

The prompt administration of oral rehydration salts to replace lost fluids nearly always results in cure, and that intravenous administration of fluids may be required to save the patient's life in especially severe cases.

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