• Handwashing

Cholera

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION HAITI CRISIS

What is?

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours. It has a short incubation period, ranging between two hours and five days. People with low immunity, such as malnourished children or people living with HIV, are at greater risk of death if infected. Person-to-person transmission is not common. 

Symptoms

The bacterium produces an enterotoxin that causes copious, painless, watery diarrhea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given. Vomiting also occurs in most patients. 

Prevention and control

Cholera continues to pose a public health threat to countries in the Region and is a key indicator of the lack of social development. While it does not pose a threat to countries with adequate sanitation and access to safe drinking water, the disease remains a challenge for countries where these conditions are not yet present.

The key to mitigating cholera outbreaks, controlling the disease when it becomes endemic, and reducing mortality continues to be a multidisciplinary approach to prevention, preparedness, and response, coupled with a robust surveillance system for timely case detection.

Treatment

Cholera is a disease that responds satisfactorily to medical treatment. The first goal of treatment is to replace fluids lost through diarrhea and vomiting. Most cases can be successfully treated by prompt administration of oral rehydration salts (ORS).

More information on the technical resources section. 

 

Cholera Resurgence in the Hispaniola

After more than 3 years with no cases, on 1 October 2022 Haiti national authorities reported two confirmed cases of  cholera  in the greater Port-au-Prince area. On October 20, the Dominican Republic Vice-Ministry of Collective Health and the General Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed the first imported case of cholera.

For the past years, Haiti has been engulfed in a socioeconomic, political, and humanitarian crisis. Gang control and escalating violence hinder access to communities and complicate the timely assessment of the epidemiological situation, the installation of Oral Rehydration Points (ORP) and Cholera Treatment Centers (CTCs), the transport of patients to CTCs, and health promotion, as well as community-level water, hygiene, and sanitation activities.  

SITUATION REPORTS

Cholera Vaccine

It is a substance that helps our immune system (defenses) to protect us from severe cases of the disease. 

There are three WHO prequalified vaccines to support the fight against cholera: Dukoral®, Shanchol™, and Euvichol-Plus®. 

These vaccines are administered orally (in the mouth).  

Cholera vaccines usually require two doses with an interval of 7 to 14 days depending on the vaccine being used.  

However, due to the high number of cholera outbreaks worldwide and the shortage of oral cholera vaccine (OCV), the International Coordination Group (ICG), which manages the global OCV stockpile, recommends only 1 dose to support the control of cholera outbreaks.  

One dose of OCV is effective in protecting populations in outbreak or high-risk areas (those where cholera is endemic, i.e. constantly emerging). 

Currently, cholera vaccination is limited and recommended to areas with endemic cholera, in humanitarian crises with high cholera risk, and during cholera outbreaks. 

OCV is not recommended for children under 1 year of age.  

The cholera vaccine protects against severe cases and, together with other measures such as hand washing, helps to stop the spread of cholera.   

You can receive the cholera vaccine even if you have symptoms or if you have had the disease previously.  

The cholera vaccine is safe and effective, including in people with underlying diseases.   

The cholera vaccine can be administered to pregnant women without adverse effects to them or their children.  

Vaccination aims to limit the spread of the disease to new communities. 

WHO emphasizes that vaccination against cholera is one of the many strategies a country can adopt to interrupt transmission of the disease.  

Community-based water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) operations and case management remain the cornerstones of any response and should be implemented alongside vaccination activities. 

WHO: cholera vaccine


More info

WHO: position papers on cholera vaccine


More info

After  vaccination,  continue to protect yourself from cholera

Icono lavado de manos

Wash your hands with soap and water

Boiling water

Use and drink safe water.  

Cooking

Cook food well

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Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly 

Boiling water

Clean and disinfect toilets with household bleach

Hospital icon

Acude al centro de salud si tienes diarrea líquida y frecuente

emergencyappeal-choleraresurgence-nov2022

Emergency Donor Appeal

Make a difference and help save lives by supporting the delivery of essential supplies and critical assistance to people in need.

Urgent actions are needed to save lives, reduce cholera morbidity and mortality and limit the spread of the disease nationally and to other countries of the Region. PAHO aims to intensify its technical assistance in areas of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), urgent care, mental health, and risk communications. This intensification underscores PAHO's steadfast commitment to the Haitian people, especially in times of crisis. 

paho 2022-2023 aPPEAL WHO 2024 aPPEAL

 

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