Haiti cholera death toll surpasses 900

The United Nations forecasts up to 200,000 Haitians are at risk of contracting cholera.

The death toll from Haiti's cholera outbreak surpasses 900 as remnants of the deadly disease have become present in six of the nation's 10 provinces.

The Haitian Health Ministry said in an update on its website that 917 deaths and more than 14,600 hospitalized cases have been recorded as of November 12.

The epicenter of the epidemic, the central province of Artibonite, remained the worst affected area and accounted for nearly 600 of the total deaths.

The capital, which was hit hardest in the January 12 earthquake, has recorded 27 deaths so far.

Aid workers and government officials are trying to prevent the disease from reaching crowded slums and tent camps housing over 1.3 million homeless earthquake survivors.

The United Nations estimates that up to 200,000 Haitians are at risk of contracting the disease as the outbreak spreads across the western hemisphere's poorest country, which has a population of nearly 10 million.

The country's health officials are concerned that the cholera outbreak could spread to the neighboring Dominican Republic and then to the United States.

Cholera is a bacterial infection that spreads through contaminated water, causing severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration and death.

Aid agencies are calling for emergency supplies for Haiti as there is shortage of emergency shelters, water and sanitation supplies.

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