October 12, 2022
Announcing the outbreak:
- From 25 September to 8 October 2022, Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 32 laboratory-confirmed cases of Vibrio cholerae O1, and 224 suspected cases from Port-au-Prince and Cite Soleil.
- 189 cases referred to hospitals, and 16 deaths reported.
- 55% of total reported cases are male and 49% are aged 19 years and younger. The most affected age group is from 1 to 4 years old.
History Of Disease in Haiti:
- First cholera outbreak was reported in Haiti in October 2010. Nationwide, a total of 820,000 cholera cases including 9,792 deaths reported between October 2010 and February 2019.
- The last confirmed case of cholera was reported in January 2019 in l’Estère in Artibonite county.
- Haiti has not reported a single confirmed case of cholera in the three years from January 2019 to January 2022.
Public Health Response:
- Activate the multi-sectoral response plan with a focus on case management, treatment and provision of water, raising the level of hygiene and improving the sanitation system, providing vaccinations, communication and psychosocial support, strengthening preparedness in unaffected areas, and advocating for improved security conditions to facilitate the response.
- Provide updated information on the event to other Member States through the network of IHR National Focal Points (NFPs).
Risk Assessment:
- The risk of this outbreak at the national level is considered very high due to poor economic and health situation, insecurity and limited access to potable water, which reduces the ability to implement health response efforts.
- The risk is considered medium at the regional level, with its neighboring Dominican Republic, which is likely to be most at risk of increasing cases, with advanced capabilities for cholera detection and control. At the global level, risks are considered low.
- World Health Organization does not recommend any restrictions on trade or travel to Haiti based on the information currently available.
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