On 8 APR, a credible source reported their clinic in Croix des Bouquets had seen a large number of malaria cases for March. They have reported seeing as high a case load for April and will provide updates. They commented,
With three tent cities close by, standing water in the roads, a open canal running through and everybody sleeping in tents or outside it should not be a surprise that we have a problem. April is shaping up to be as bad as March [referencing malaria case counts].
At the Health Cluster meeting several days after the 8 APR report, officials denied the claim. According to the Haiti Internally Displaced Persons Surveillance System (IDPSS) Week 14 (April 4-10, 2010) report,
None of the cases reported in IDPSS has been laboratory-confirmed. Although malaria rapid diagnostic tests are available in several reporting sites, none of the sites have yet used the new IDPSS surveillance form which includes a section for reporting confirmed malaria cases. Therefore, to date, it is impossible to have an accurate count of the confirmed malaria cases from reporting sites.
As highlighted previously, the IDPSS is severely challenged, and the source of the Croix des Bouquets report is credible. The ADVISORY for malaria stands. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will report updates as we receive them.
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