Pushing Rope: Help Haiti

Via Jill: here is a list of relief organizations you can donate to. Haiti has been hit with an unimaginable earthquake. The Wall Street Journal reports the current situation could lead to the spread of infectious diseases.

Other diseases that can be fatal in vulnerable populations could spread. Respiratory infections are a threat, as are vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, Dr. Elder said. About half of Haitian children aren't vaccinated against measles, according to a 2006 Unicef report.

Even cuts and lacerations that become infected pose a serious risk. "These kinds of infections are a major cause of death" in the aftermath of a disaster, said Paul Garwood, a World Health Organization spokesman.

Access to essential medicines for chronically ill people will also be a problem. Haiti has the highest rate of HIV in the Western Hemisphere, and tuberculosis is common in the country. Failing to take medication regularly for those maladies can lead to the spread of drug-resistant strains.