The fatalities due to the cholera epidemic outbreak in Haiti have increased to 1,523 from 1, 415 two days ago, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Thursday.

A woman with cholera receives treatment in a clinic set up by the International Red Cross in Port-au-Prince November 24, 2010. The fatalities due to the cholera epidemic outbreak in Haiti have increased to 1,523 from 1, 415 two days ago, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) said on Thursday. [Xinhua]

PAHO is the Americas' unit of the World Health Organization under the United Nations. According to the organization, the cholera outbreak has also sent 27,933 Haitians to hospital since the first detection of the disease in October.

The disease has caused the deaths of 140 people in Port-au- Prince, Haiti's capital.

More than one million Haitians are living in precarious tents since a devastating earthquake last January, which caused around 250,000 deaths and massive property loss.

PAHO fears that cholera could quickly spread due to the poor sanitary conditions in this island country.

It also warned that the epidemic could last for years and could be even more devastating for the Haitian population.

"We have to prepare ourselves for a drastic increase in the cases of cholera and we have to be sure that there is a quick way to respond in order to treat them," said PAHO's assistant director Jon Andrus.

The cholera outbreak started in the northern Artibonite River valley, a region which was not severely damaged by the Jan. 20 earthquake. The UN has launched an appeal for 160 million U.S. dollars to help combat the disease.