Cholera in Haiti (Update)
13 Dec 2016
On 7 December 2016 the World Health Organisation and the Pan American Health Organisation issued a collaborative situation report
regarding the humanitarian crisis in Haiti in wake of hurricane Matthew.
The report advised that to date the total number of suspected cholera cases was 8893. The report also advised that the associated spike in cholera cases was decreasing; the number of suspected cholera cases observed from 27 November to 3 December 2016 was 50% lower than the average number of suspected cholera cases seen in the previous two weeks.
Emergency interventions to prevent and control the spread of cholera continue.
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).