U.S. researchers have linked a second strain of cholera to the
epidemic that decimated the Haitian population in 2010-11. Previous studies have
suggested that the epidemic was caused by bacteria inadvertently introduced by
Nepalese soldiers who came to assist in recovery from a massive earthquake.
The new strain appears to be local in origin, but its role in the epidemic is
not clear because this strain does not normally produce epidemics.
Haiti suffered a
devastating magnitude 7 earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010, followed by about 52
aftershocks with a magnitude of 4.5 or higher. Estimates indicate that more than
250,000 died immediately, about 300,000 were injured and 1 million were rendered
homeless. Cholera cases began to appear in October and the spread of the disease
was exacerbated by Hurricane Tomas, which skirted the island on Nov. 5 but
produced torrential rains and severe flooding. To date, cholera has killed an
estimated 7,500 Haitians and sickened half a million.
Early studies by.. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-haiti-cholera-20120618,0,3371170.story