Haiti in the Context of the Current Global Cholera Pandemic

Edward Ryan

doi:10.3201/eid1711.110849

Abstract

Haiti in the Context of the Current Global Cholera Pandemic

Highlights

Since the early 1800s, there have been 7 cholera pandemics, and 2011 marks the 1-year anniversary of the reappearance of cholera in Haiti and the 50th anniversary of the onset of the current cholera pandemic that began in Indonesia in 1961
The organism is different from the version microbiologically associated with previous pandemics
Previous pandemics for which we have data were caused by the classical V. cholerae O1 biotype, but the current pandemic is caused by the El Tor biotype

Summary

Introduction

Since the early 1800s, there have been 7 cholera pandemics, and 2011 marks the 1-year anniversary of the reappearance of cholera in Haiti and the 50th anniversary of the onset of the current cholera pandemic that began in Indonesia in 1961. Cholera is endemic to >50 countries, affects 2–5 million persons each year, and kills 100,000. Previous pandemics for which we have data were caused by the classical V. cholerae O1 biotype, but the current pandemic is caused by the El Tor biotype.

Results

Conclusion