sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
CDC Responds to the Haiti Earthquake
Update: January 19, 2010
This information is current as of January 19, 2010 9:00 PM ET
CDC is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), various branches of the U.S. military, and other federal and international agencies to help communities in Haiti recover from the powerful earthquake that struck the country on January 12, 2010.
The earthquake has had a devastating effect on the population of Haiti. Millions of Haitians have been affected. Critical infrastructure (transportation, communication, healthcare) in affected areas has been destroyed or severely damaged. With shortages of safe water and food, lack of shelter, and sanitation supplies, health threats may increase--especially as large numbers of people affected by the disaster migrate to safer areas.
The earthquake response can be divided into three phases: initial response (first days, focusing on rescue and recovery), interim period (where CDC?s role is to support surveillance and help address specific public health issues such as food and water safety and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases), and reconstruction (where CDC will be involved in supporting the strengthening of Haiti?s public health infrastructure).
CDC?s current response activities in Haiti include supporting public health efforts by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). At the same time, CDC is closely coordinating with international and national government organizations and nongovernment organizations (e.g., International Red Cross, World Food Program, UNICEF, CARE).
CDC emergency personnel are working to address several public health priorities in Haiti:
Previous Updates:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/haiti/cdc_earthquake_response.asp?s_cid=tw_epr_157
Update: January 19, 2010
This information is current as of January 19, 2010 9:00 PM ET
CDC is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), various branches of the U.S. military, and other federal and international agencies to help communities in Haiti recover from the powerful earthquake that struck the country on January 12, 2010.
The earthquake has had a devastating effect on the population of Haiti. Millions of Haitians have been affected. Critical infrastructure (transportation, communication, healthcare) in affected areas has been destroyed or severely damaged. With shortages of safe water and food, lack of shelter, and sanitation supplies, health threats may increase--especially as large numbers of people affected by the disaster migrate to safer areas.
The earthquake response can be divided into three phases: initial response (first days, focusing on rescue and recovery), interim period (where CDC?s role is to support surveillance and help address specific public health issues such as food and water safety and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases), and reconstruction (where CDC will be involved in supporting the strengthening of Haiti?s public health infrastructure).
CDC?s current response activities in Haiti include supporting public health efforts by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). At the same time, CDC is closely coordinating with international and national government organizations and nongovernment organizations (e.g., International Red Cross, World Food Program, UNICEF, CARE).
CDC emergency personnel are working to address several public health priorities in Haiti:
- Reducing and preventing further deaths, injuries, and illnesses,
- Determining and helping to address critical needs for water and sanitation, healthcare, and food,
- Assessing the state of local healthcare facilities.
- Assessing and addressing emergency maternal and infant health needs,
- Providing health education to help people in Haiti protect their own health and safety,
- Conducting disease and injury surveillance.
Previous Updates:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/haiti/cdc_earthquake_response.asp?s_cid=tw_epr_157