To the editor,
[Extract] Vibrio cholerae is a bacterium that can causes watery diarrhea, and if untreated, severe dehydration can lead to death. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the global cholera burden with 1.3−4 million cases and 21 000−143 000 deaths, noting that underreporting remains a significant challenge. A comprehensive approach to cholera elimination – Ending Cholera – A Global Roadmap to 2030 (reduce cholera deaths by 90% and eliminate cholera in 20 countries by 2030) – integrates surveillance activities, water and sanitation interventions, social mobilization efforts, and pharmacological (including preventive vaccine) management (1).
The Americas region reported the first cholera case in Peru in 1991, and by 1994, most Latin American countries except Uruguay and the Caribbean islands had reported cases (2). After the effects of El Niño and hurricane Mitch in 1998-1999, cholera reemerged after the Haiti earthquake in 2010 (2). However, after three years without reported cases, the Haiti Ministry of Health confirmed two cholera cases (Vibrio cholerae O1) in the Port-au-Prince area on 2 October 2022 (3,4). By 6 November 2022, 6 814 suspected cases, including 653 laboratory-confirmed cases and 144 deaths, were reported in seven departments (3). By 20 December 2022, 18 469 suspected cases, with 1 380 laboratory-confirmed cases and 324 deaths, were reported across 10 departments (3).[...]