Health authorities reported in mid-2019 that cholera cases in Haiti had declined significantly compared to the epidemic’s peak years, offering a rare piece of positive news amid the country’s deepening crisis. The Pan American Health Organization noted that sustained vaccination campaigns and improved water and sanitation interventions had contributed to the reduction in reported cases.
The cholera epidemic, which began in October 2010 when UN peacekeepers from Nepal inadvertently introduced the bacteria into Haiti’s main river system, had killed at least 10,000 people and infected nearly a million more over the following years. The UN formally acknowledged responsibility for introducing the disease in 2016 and pledged to raise funds for victims, though the actual delivery of assistance fell far short of commitments made.
Despite the progress, health experts cautioned that the political crisis and ongoing lockdowns posed new risks. Disruptions to clean water distribution, sanitation services, and healthcare access could create conditions for a resurgence of waterborne diseases. Hospitals and clinics were already operating under severe resource constraints.
Survivor advocacy groups continued to push for meaningful compensation from the United Nations, arguing that an apology and limited material assistance did not constitute adequate redress for the suffering caused.