Cholera in Haiti

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2017: A child receives an oral cholera vaccination in Mirebalais, Haiti (Photo by Partners In Health).

Friends: The following is an urgent situation report.

Cholera has emerged in Haiti again after three years as a result of months of political instability and widespread disruption. At the time of writing, Zanmi Lasante (as PIH is known in Haiti) is caring for 31 patients, most of whom are children. 

The Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population’s recent situation report counts 2,722 suspected cases, 2,523 hospitalizations, and 42 known fatalities so far. The most affected age group is children aged 1-4.

Cholera causes such severe vomiting and diarrhea that—if left untreated—a patient can die from dehydration within 24 hours. Most victims are children.

Injustices reinforce each other. One reason this disease is currently so dangerous to children is that roughly 1 in 5 children in Haiti is chronically malnourished. Malnutrition weakens a child’s immune system, meaning the smallest, most vulnerable children are left least defended. 

That’s where expert care comes in. Right now, our teams are:

1. Converting an 18-bed COVID-19 treatment center, and another 16-bed room into cholera treatment centers
2. Distributing food and hygiene supplies and trying to procure fuel to keep medical sites running 
3. Carrying out community-level education and prevention activities
4. Working with international partners to rapidly import and distribute essential supplies to respond to cholera

To date, not one Zanmi Lasante facility has closed or been forced to stop caring for patients throughout the region. Indeed, 1.3 million people, or 1 in 10 Haitians, rely on our facilities for care, treatment, and accompaniment.      

Thank you for your lifesaving support. We’ll have more information, as well as historical context, for you tomorrow. 

In solidarity,

The PIH Team

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