Growing concern about cholera epidemic in Haiti

The recent detection of two suspected cholera cases in a displacement camp near Port-au-Prince has increased concerns about the spread of the disease in Haiti. The suspected cases are two children with symptoms of chronic diarrhea. Last month, four other cases were reported in the camp, with residents denouncing the inaction of authorities toward a potential outbreak. According to Jhonny Élysée, president of the camp committee, the threat remains because there has been no decontamination effort on the site.
In 2022, Haiti was declared free from cholera by PAHO and WHO after an intense public health campaign. However, that success quickly faded and new infections were detected in the country amid civil unrest and a deepening humanitarian crisis. As of March 29, Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) reported 1,298 suspected cholera cases, including nine confirmed and 19 deaths. This wave of infections is mainly concentrated in the country’s displacement camps, where over a million people live in precarious conditions after fleeing their homes due to gang violence. Overcrowded shelters and poor sanitation make them vulnerable not only to cholera but also to skin diseases and other gastrointestinal infections. Moreover, health facilities are unable to deal with the situation due to a lack of equipment and constant gang attacks. In a public statement in March, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) launched an urgent appeal to provide universal access to safe drinking water and medical care to contain the spread of cholera.