Health Professionals

Clinical Updates

Updated 15 January 2010

Earthquake in Haiti

On 12 January 2010 at 4.53pm local time (9.53pm GMT), an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale occurred 10 miles south west of Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti [1,2]. Tremors were also felt throughout Dominican Republic and Cuba.

A map of the affected area can be accessed on the ReliefWeb website.

The earthquake has caused extensive damage to the infrastructure of Haiti with numerous collapsed buildings. The number of casualties is unknown at present but media reports suggest that thousands of people have died [3,4]. An international rescue operation is underway.

In the Dominican Republic there are no reports of casualties or damage to the infrastructure. A tsunami watch triggered by the earthquake in the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti has now been cancelled [5].


Advice for travellers

Public services, health care, communications and electricity are severely disrupted in affected areas of Haiti.

There is likely to be an increased risk from food and waterborne disease.

Travellers should contact consult the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for information on the safety and security of travel to the affected areas, as well as their tour operator and airline.

As of the 14 January 2010, the FCO are advising against all but essential travel to Haiti.

Although there are no reports of damage to the infrastructure in Cuba and Dominican Republic, there remains a risk of aftershocks. Travellers should contact their tour operators prior to departure.

Country-specific health advice for travellers to Haiti can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Pages. General advice can also be found in the NaTHNaC Advice for relief workers and other travellers to areas affected by natural disasters.

References

1. US Geological Survey. Earthquake hazards program. 12 January 2010. [Accessed 13 January 2010]. Available at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes

/us2010rja6.php

2. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Haiti travel advice. Updated 12 January 2010. [Accessed 13 January 2010]. Available at http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/haiti/

3. ReliefWeb. Thousands feared dead as major quake strikes Haiti. 12 January 2010. [Accessed 13 January 2010]. Available at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SNAA-7ZN2SB?OpenDocument

4. ReliefWeb. World gears up to help quake-stricken Haiti. 13 January 2010. [Accessed 13 January 2010]. Available at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SNAA-7ZN8BM?OpenDocument

5. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Tsunami message 3. 12 January 2010. [Accessed 13 January 2010]. Available at http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/?region=4&id=caribe.2010.01.12

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