ATLANTA, March 4 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials advise people travelling to Haiti should take medications to prevent malaria.
The earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12 resulted in more than 200,000 deaths and millions left homeless. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released Thursday said malaria is endemic throughout Haiti and both the displaced people living out of doors or in temporary shelters and the thousands of emergency responders in Haiti are at substantial risk for the disease.
"Between Jan. 12 and Feb. 25, the CDC received reports of 11 laboratory-confirmed cases of malaria acquired in Haiti post-earthquake including seven cases in U.S. emergency responders, three cases in Haitian residents, and a case in a U.S. traveler," the report said. "For individuals travelling to Haiti there are effective medications for both the prevention and treatment of malaria. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of malaria as well as chemoprophylaxis when appropriate are critical."
