Cholera Update

In January and July of 2014, ICC provided you with updates on the cholera epidemic in Haiti. Since cholera was introduced in 2010, the Pan American Health Organization reports that more than 731,000 people have been infected, leading the world in suspected cholera cases. They report that more than 8,700 people have died after contracting the disease.

According to Reuters, "Haitian officials are reporting a spike in cholera cases late last year and carrying over into the first three months of 2015 as an early start to the rainy season has public health workers worried." As of March 28, the Haitian Ministry of Health confirmed at least 11,721 cases of cholera, which is more than a 300% increase from the same period last year.

Haiti has two rainy seasons: the first between April and June, and another from late summer until November which coincides with hurricane season.  The rainy seasons often generate spikes in cholera as it is a waterborne bacterial disease.

So far, in 2015, there have been 113 cholera cases. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is seeking support for a $2.2 billion, 10-year-cholera-elimination campaign that he launched in December 2012 with the presidents of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

ICC will continue to update you on the status of cholera in Haiti.