Haiti: MSF responds to resurgence of cholera

Over the past few days, people identified as potentially affected by the disease have presented to the MSF emergency center in Turgeau and the MSF Cité Soleil hospital, exhibiting symptoms like severe diarrhea and vomiting. A sample from a patient in Turgeau was found positive for cholera by national laboratory tests.

As of October 3, MSF had admitted 68 patients to its facilities in Brooklyn, Cité Soleil and Turgeau. Sadly, one of those patients—a three-year-old child—died.

Cholera is a highly contagious disease that occurs in settings without clean water and proper sanitation—from remote villages to overcrowded cities, refugee camps, and conflict zones. It causes profuse diarrhea and vomiting, and without treatment can quickly lead to death by dehydration.

This resurgence of cholera is taking place at a time when people in Haiti face enormous difficulties in accessing health care. Insecurity and violence, coupled with severe shortages of fuel and drinking water, have forced many health facilities to reduce their activities and in some cases to stop them altogether. In addition to this, people who need treatment find it increasingly difficult to move around as public transportation is scarcely available due to a lack of fuel in the country.