Haiti Faces Resurgence of Cholera Amidst Political Turmoil and Violence

As of October 24, 2025, Haiti is confronting a significant cholera outbreak, with over 3,000 suspected cases, 160 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths reported. The Ouest department, encompassing the capital, Port-au-Prince, is the epicenter, accounting for 80% of the fatalities. Notably, the typically affluent area of Pétion-Ville has also reported cases. This resurgence marks the third major cholera outbreak in recent years, following a devastating epidemic from 2010 to 2016 and another resurgence beginning in 2022, which caused over 1,100 deaths.

The current outbreak is exacerbated by severe socio-political instability and escalating gang violence, which have displaced more than 1.4 million people. Many displaced individuals are living in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Health workers and NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), face challenges operating due to violence and resource constraints. Efforts are underway to stabilize and treat patients, such as establishing rehydration centers and chlorination points, but funding shortfalls—partly due to the dismantling of USAID—pose a serious threat to containment efforts. Health officials warn that without coordinated action and increased support, the death toll could rise significantly.

The Dominican Republic has activated prevention and surveillance protocols to prevent the disease from crossing the border. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is supporting Haitian public health authorities and international partners in response efforts.

The cholera outbreak has profound social implications, particularly for vulnerable populations. Women, for instance, have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing crisis. In late November 2024, four pregnant women died after being unable to access emergency medical care in Port-au-Prince, as gangs blocked medical personnel from reaching hospitals. The capital, 80% of which is under gang control, has seen a sharp increase in violence following political instability.

The recent cholera outbreak in Haiti, centered in the Ouest department, underscores the devastating impact of political instability and gang violence on public health. With over 1.4 million people displaced and health services strained, the situation demands urgent international attention and coordinated response efforts.

Haiti's first major cholera epidemic began in October 2010, infecting more than 820,000 people and resulting in approximately 10,000 deaths. The outbreak was traced to human waste dumped into a river by UN peacekeepers from the MINUSTAH mission. After a period of being cholera-free, the disease reemerged in late September 2022 in the impoverished Cité Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Molecular studies showed that the strain responsible for the 2022 outbreak was genetically highly related to the strain from the 2010-2019 epidemic.