Mosquitoborne Infections after Hurricane Jeanne, Haiti, 2004
Mark Edward Beattya✉, Elizabeth Hunspergera, Earl G. Longb c, Julia Schürchd, Seema Jainb c, Rom Colindresb c, Gérald Lerebourse, Yves-Marie Bernardf, James G. Dobbinsg, Mathew Brownf, Gary G. Clarkh
- aCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
- bCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- cCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
- dMédecins Sans Frontières, Belgium
- eJohn Snow Incorporated, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
- fCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
- gPan American Health Organization, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
- hCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USAAgricultural Research Service, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
After Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004, surveillance for mosquitoborne diseases in Gonaïves, Haiti, identified 3 patients with malaria, 2 with acute dengue infections, and 2 with acute West Nile virus infections among 116 febrile patients.These are the first reported human West Nile virus infections on the island of Hispaniola. H urricane Jeanne caused large-scale devastation inGonaïves, Haiti, on September 18, 2004.The US Department of Health and Human Services assisted the Haitian Ministry of Health by conducting a rapid field assessment of health-related issues.Among the actions recommended by the team was immediate epidemiologic assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reinforce and expand epidemiologic surveillance to identify as early as possible any emerging epidemic or community health problems.Concern was raised that the combination of flooding, loss of shelter, and destruction of infrastructure would result in an outbreak of mosquitoborne diseases.We conducted surveillance to assess the extent of mosquitoborne diseases and monitor for outbreaks of these diseases.