Cholera in Haiti - update 1
11 Jan 2023
Cholera continues to be reported in Haiti. From 2 October 2022, to 1 January 2023, the Haitian Ministry of Health reported a total of 22 469 suspected cases (including 452 deaths) in all 10 Departments of the country.
The Ouest Department continues has reported 70% of all suspected cases recorded. The communes of Port-au-Prince, Cité-Soleil and Carrefour have reported 68% of all suspected cases reported in the Ouest Department.
Haiti is experiencing civil unrest, which exacerbates its public health challenges.
Cholera is an infection spread mainly through food and water that can cause sudden watery diarrhoea.
Advice for Travellers
Cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.
If you are travelling to a country where there is an outbreak of cholera, you should be aware how to:
- practice safe food and water precautions
- practice effective hand hygiene
- treat mild diarrhoea, and when to seek medical attention
A vaccine is available to protect against cholera. Since the risk to travellers is very low, the vaccine is only usually recommended for volunteers or humanitarian workers travelling to work in disaster relief situations.
See the fitfortravel Cholera page for further information.