The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Wednesday reported that the cholera outbreak in Haiti is getting worse and the number of COVID-19 cases in Americas has increased in recent weeks.

PAHO Director Dr. Carissa Etienne noted that since early October, Haitian health authorities have confirmed over 700 cases and 144 deaths due to cholera and are investigating over 7,000 suspected cases, according to U.S. News. 

"This is a dangerous situation," said Etienne, adding that PAHO asked other countries to heighten vigilance. PAHO is supporting Haiti in delivering life-saving healthcare to patients, deploying health personnel, and securing access to fuel for healthcare facilities.

PAHO has called the combination of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) a "triple threat" to the Americas' respiratory health.

According to Etienne, the number of reported cases of COVID-19 increased by 17% in recent weeks, and deaths skyrocketed in South and Central America.

She said there is a possibility of a comeback of the virus "everytime we become complacent." She continued, "We cannot let our guard down."

After two years of below-average activity, Etienne claimed that seasonal influenza cases are rising.

After a few years of reduced seasonal transmission, PAHO reported that the number of RSV infections in Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, and the United States has spiked considerably, putting a strain on healthcare systems in these countries.

Even the appearance of a single respiratory illness in a population is cause for alarm, but when two or more appear at once, "we should all be on alert," Etienne noted.

Even though the Americas are still hit the worst by monkeypox, PAHO reported that the disease is declining in most countries.

Etienne said, "We must take advantage of this momentum to drive monkeypox cases to zero as quickly as possible."

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Lifting of Fuel Blockade Causes the Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

People in Haiti is buzzing around again after a two-month devastating gasoline blockade, and experts are concerned that the situation could worsen as the number of cholera cases in Haiti is increasing.

Dr. Jeanty Fils, a spokesperson for Haiti's Ministry of Health, told The Associated Press that people have returned to the streets and it is likely spreading cholera outbreak amid the government's efforts to locate life-saving supplies like intravenous fluids and the ongoing debate over whether to ask for cholera vaccines.

Fils said: "We need more resources. Cholera cases in Haiti are on the rise."

Though PAHO and the Haitian government reported 156 deaths and over 6,900 hospitalizations, experts believed the numbers were much greater due to under-reporting.

Fils claimed that the gasoline blockade likely limited the spread of cholera since over 11 million residents in the country stayed indoors. But now, he noted that people will start to travel around more and "it could start spreading," Fox News reported.

Manager of medical operations at Doctors Without Borders Stephanie Mayronne agreed.

She noted that if more people fell ill with cholera and began relocating to areas with poor sanitation and no drinking water, the number of cholera cases would rise. She said it is a match that can start a fire.

PAHO Director Suggests Using COVID-19 Practices to Battle Other Respiratory Diseases in Americas

Influenza cases are also rising in the Southern Cone, with Argentina and Uruguay seeing the greatest increases out of season. Unanticipated costs are piling up in the healthcare system because of this, according to Relief Web.

Etienne noted that mask use and social isolation, which are employed to halt the spread of COVID-19, also work to stop the spread of other respiratory infections, such as RSV, for which no vaccine exists.

In addition, countries must strengthen their efforts to promote COVID-19 and influenza immunization and enhance their genomic disease surveillance.

The PAHO Revolving Fund has delivered 31 million doses of influenza and 39.5 million of COVID-19 doses to Member States.

The director said there were enough immunizations to ensure everyone's safety, urging everyone to use them.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Harrowing Scenes in Hospital as Cholera Hits Haiti - From WION