[Harris:] So, first, Haiti is hit by a devastating earthquake. Now, a fast-moving outbreak of cholera. At least 253 people are dead, more than 3,000 sick. CNN's Paula Newton takes us to the heart of this latest crisis.
[Paula Newton, Cnn International Correspondent:] While the death toll has risen here, and so have the confirmed cases, it's interesting authorities are showing some cautious optimism that the situation has stabilized. That's difficult to see from the chaos behind me here at St. Nicholas Hospital in St. Marc. Still, people receiving at times the most basic of care. But more and more, they are receiving care more quickly, and people are beginning to get the word out that if you have severe diarrhea and vomiting, you need to come to these health facilities. And also that public health campaign, people being told to wash their hands, make sure they're drinking clean water, watch where they are going in terms of using facilities, and also staying away from the river in this area, which is almost certainly contaminated with cholera. Now, going to Port-au-Prince, there they have taken some measures again to come up with hand-cleaning stations, to really try and take the level of hygiene up a notch, as difficult as that is with about a million people still living out in the open in tent cities. But also, they have isolation units for cholera treatment, which is very important. They really only got them up here today, earlier today. And they have people on standby to take people to medical facilities if that happens. But so far, authorities hoping, really praying, that they can keep this outbreak from spreading to the capital. Paula Newton, CNN, St. Marc, Haiti.
[Harris:] Let's do this let's bring in our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen. And Elizabeth, for those of us I had to remind myself about the facts behind cholera. Exactly what is it?
[Elizabeth Cohen, Cnn Sr. Medical Correspondent:] All right. Cholera is a bacterial disease, and you get it basically because, to be blunt, sewage ends up getting into food and water.
[Harris:] Right.
[Cohen:] So let's go over some of the symptoms of cholera, because what happens is, is that if you get to it early, when these symptoms happen, it is much more easily treatable and you can stop the spread. So, some of the symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, leg cramps, and dehydration. And Tony, lots of people get cholera, but they don't even know they have it, or they only have mild symptoms. It's a relatively small percentage that end up getting so sick that they can die really very quickly from the disease.
[Harris:] Yes. So what can Haitians do about this situation right now on the ground?
[Cohen:] What they can do is wash their hands often. That's so important, and that's why you're going to see aid workers out there trying to distribute different things that they can do to wash their hands. And the other thing that they can do is they can watch out for those symptoms that I just mentioned. And then the minute you feel them, go and get help, because they can give you oral rehydration salts.
[Harris:] Is that what it is?
[Cohen:] Yes.
[Harris:] OK.
[Cohen:] They can give you something to drink, or they can give you IVs. I mean, they can get you going again, but you have to get to that care.
[Harris:] Now, we are aware of the infrastructure problems in Haiti. Even for a country as challenged as Haiti right now is, is this a situation that that country can control?
[Cohen:] Yes. Public health workers are telling us that they think they can get it under control. And when you think about it, it's kind of amazing this hasn't happened earlier since the earthquake was nearly a year ago. But if you get people washing their hands, and you get people to health care situations quickly once they feel ill, that really can go a long way to getting this under control.
[Harris:] Elizabeth, that's good information. Thank you.
[Cohen:] Thanks.
[Harris:] Elizabeth Cohen with us.