Cholera in Haiti

World Health Organization are reporting that between 25 September and 8 October 2022, 32 confirmed and 224 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in Haiti. A total of 189 cases have been hospitalised, of which 16 deaths have occurred.

It has been more than 3 years since cholera has been reported in Haiti. The current outbreak is taking place in Port-au-Prince and Cité Soleil which are areas that are experiencing civil unrest with several thousand people having been displaced as a result of the increase in violence.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of faecally contaminated food or water, and occasionally foodstuffs such as shellfish.

Advice for Travellers

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

All travellers should be given advice on:

• maintaining safe food and water precautions
• effective hand hygiene
• basic steps in self-treating diarrhoea, particularly remaining adequately hydrated

Vaccination against cholera is dependent on the individual risk assessment, but may be considered for:

• volunteers/humanitarian workers/medical personnel travelling to disaster relief situations where cholera outbreaks are likely
• travellers with remote itineraries in areas where cholera outbreaks are occurring and there is limited access to medical care

For more information, please see the TRAVAX Cholera Page.