Saint-Marc , Haiti ( CNN ) -- Patients arrive at the front gates of St. Nicholas Hospital hunched over and groaning , only to be greeted by chaos and confusion . Getting inside is n't easy , but once in , aid organizations and local staff try to treat those most vulnerable to the ravages of cholera in an area of wooden benches grouped as a triage area . Many here are still lying in the open air and are sprawled out on concrete with anxious relatives holding re-hydration fluid , hoping it will treat the cholera now stalking this rural area about 60 miles northwest of the capital of Haiti , Port-au-Prince . Death toll passes 250 . Those most at risk are the very old and the very young . Dozens of infants who lay crying and uncomfortable on their mothers ' laps , dehydrated and weak . Haiti 's health minister , Dr. Alex Larsen , told CNN in a telephone interview that he believes the cholera outbreak is stabilizing . Larsen added that reports of the outbreak spreading are so far unsubstantiated . BLOG : Cholera can be deadly within hours . The United Nations confirmed to CNN on Saturday that there are five confirmed cases of cholera in the capital but those cases originated from the area in and around Saint-Marc . CNN toured St. Nicholas Hospital with a team from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention . The team is here to support the government 's efforts and advise on how to best mitigate and contain the outbreak . `` It is encouraging that the mortality rate seems to be coming down . '' says Dr. Eric Mintz , a scientist with the CDC who specializes in diarrheal diseases . Mintz adds that while the outbreak is likely to spread , the fatality rates should continue to drop , and the water , sanitization and hygiene infrastructure in the country can be strengthened in time to avoid a full-scale disaster .
St. Nicholas Hospital in Haiti is packed with cholera victims . Aid organizations and local staff try to treat the most vulnerable . A CDC doctor says mortality rates seem to be coming down . Haiti 's health minister says he believes the cholera outbreak is stabilizing .