Cholera in Haiti (Update)

The 12 October 2016 Haiti Situation Report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) asserts that cholera continues to be a large concern in wake of Hurricane Matthew with 510 new cases reported. The hurricane has posed a risk of a spike in cholera cases due to damage to water infrastructure and ongoing flooding.

Emergency interventions are complementing the existing cholera response wherever possible.

Advice for Travellers

Severe cholera is rare in travellers, mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.

• All travellers should be given advice on maintaining good food, water and hand hygiene, see traveller's diarrhoea, safe eating and drinking and water purification.
• Travellers should be advised on basic steps in self - treating diarrhoea, particularly maintaining hydration.

When to consider vaccination

Vaccination should be considered under the following circumstances and is dependant on the individual risk assessment:

• Volunteers/aid workers/medical personnel in disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks likely.
• Those travelling to work in slums/refugee camps, areas affected by natural disasters, or countries experiencing cholera outbreaks (see current notes on the country concerned).