April 16,2013  Infection control Today

original article here

The cholera strain that transferred to Haiti in 2010 has multiple toxin gene mutations that may account for the severity of disease and is evolving to be more like an 1800s version of cholera, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study.

The strain, "altered El Tor," which emerged around 2000, is known to be more virulent and to cause more severe diarrhea and dehydration than earlier strains that had been circulating since the 1960s. This study reports the altered El Tor strain has acquired two additional signature mutations during the past decade that may further increase virulence.

In addition, these newly discovered signature mutations documented in the study further link the Haitian cholera epidemic to the strain from Nepal.

April 11, 2013, The Tampa Tribune

original article here

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Two radio stations in Haiti are reporting that a second minister in as many days has resigned from her post.

March 28, 2013  Trenton Daniel, Associated press

in the Miami Herald, article here

The former United Nations human rights monitor in Haiti is taking a swipe at the Caribbean nation's legal system as he leaves his post. In an open letter that was sent to the Haitian press and obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, Michel Forst criticized the government for the continuation of arbitrary and illegal arrests, its interference in the justice system and for threatening journalists.

"When I leave my office, I do not want to hide my concerns and disappointment in the developments in the field of rule of law and human rights," Forst wrote.