Cholera in Haiti

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Friends: The following is your second cholera situation report.

Cholera has emerged in Haiti again as a result of months of political instability and widespread disruption. 

At the time of writing, Zanmi Lasante (as PIH is known in Haiti) has cared for 101 people with cholera, 77 of whom are children. We’ve been able to discharge 69 people, and are currently caring for 31. Tragically, one person died of cholera after being admitted.

As of the most recent Ministry of Health report, there are 3,158 suspected cases, 2,942 hospitalizations, and 44 known fatalities in the country. The most affected age group remains 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.

Here’s some essential background:

1. Cholera didn’t exist in Haiti before 2010 when it was accidentally introduced by UN peacekeepers from Nepal. 
2. This led to a massive cholera outbreak: More than 9,700 people died, and at least another 815,000 were sickened from the disease.
3. PIH was among the first responders to the 2010 outbreak in Haiti. Staff set up 11 cholera treatment facilities, and a team of thousands immediately began saving lives. Ultimately, PIH treated more than 180,000 people.  

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

PIH teams also led efforts to end the outbreak through vaccination and improved sanitation. By the end of the outbreak, PIH had worked in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and other local organizations to vaccinate 950,000 people, and proven that cholera vaccines could be deployed anywhere, leading to the creation of a new global vaccine stockpile. 

Cholera is back, and replenishing that stockpile is necessary right now—as is a surge of resources for lifesaving treatment.

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This deadly pathogen can be stopped again with the right staff, stuff, space, systems, and support. Thank you for your pragmatic solidarity. 

In gratitude,

Partners In Health

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