Haiti health news · MDTravelHealth

Recent reports

Diphtheria — multiple departments (ongoing 2026 resurgence)

Haiti has reported renewed diphtheria transmission during 2026 and public-health partners have been supporting detection and clinical management. The Pan American Health Organization and Haiti’s health authorities recorded 1,924 suspected diphtheria cases (159 laboratory‑confirmed) in national reporting through 20 June 2026, and regional alerts prompted training and response activities thereafter. PAHO/WHO – Haiti response (summary, includes reported diphtheria data to 20 Jun 2026). Local reporting and health‑facility training updates in September–October 2026 described continuing case identification and clinician training in several departments, indicating the event remained active into the second half of 2026. iciHaiti report on recent training and case counts (Sept/Oct 2026). This matters to travelers because respiratory diphtheria is vaccine‑preventable; authorities and partners have emphasized catch‑up vaccination and clinician readiness, and travellers should ensure routine vaccinations are up to date before travel.

Cholera and acute watery diarrhoea — localized transmission with lower reported counts in 2026

Haiti has experienced recurrent cholera transmission since 2022 and continued to report cholera/acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases in 2026; WHO regional surveillance reported 722 cholera/AWD cases and two deaths from Haiti for 1 January–30 August 2026, with only one new cholera case reported in August 2026 (a decline from prior months, though reporting delays are possible). WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER101-39), cholera data to 30 Aug 2026. PAHO/WHO continue to advise strengthening surveillance, case management and water/sanitation measures and maintain technical guidance for responders. PAHO/WHO cholera technical guidance (Haiti response). For travellers this means the risk is concentrated where transmission and poor WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) conditions occur; following standard food‑and‑water precautions and seeking early treatment for severe diarrhoea are important where local transmission is reported.

Large child vaccination (catch‑up) campaign — Centre, Artibonite and West departments (July–August 2026)

The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), with PAHO support, ran a catch‑up vaccination campaign targeting children aged 0–5 years in several departments between 27 July and 18 August 2026; PAHO reported that more than 100,000 children received doses of polio, measles‑rubella and diphtheria‑containing vaccines during these operations. PAHO news release, 21 Sep 2026 (campaign details and dates). The campaign is an outbreak‑response and prevention measure tied to recent detections of vaccine‑preventable diseases (notably diphtheria and concerns about measles/polio immunity gaps); travellers should be aware that public vaccination drives and related clinic activity may occur locally and that childhood immunization efforts do not change routine pre‑travel vaccine planning for adult travellers.

Health‑system disruption and humanitarian conditions affecting outbreak control (nationwide, 2026)

Haiti’s prolonged humanitarian crisis, including displaced populations and constrained health services, continues to hamper disease surveillance, vaccination coverage and outbreak response, which complicates control of cholera, diphtheria and other infectious threats. The regional PAHO response page documents sustained Grade‑3 humanitarian operations and the need to maintain surveillance and treatment capacity. PAHO/WHO – Haiti humanitarian crisis (operations and response priorities). UNICEF’s July 2026 SMART survey results and related reporting highlight high levels of acute malnutrition among children in surveyed areas, a factor that can increase vulnerability to infectious disease complications. UNICEF press release on SMART survey results (July 2026). For travellers this means health services, emergency care and consistent supply chains (including some vaccines, antitoxins or medicines) may be limited in parts of the country; plan accordingly and consult official travel‑health guidance before departure.

This snapshot summarizes outbreak reports and response measures published or substantively updated in the 90 days before 26 October 2026. Situation and local public‑health measures can change rapidly; check the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population, PAHO/WHO and your government travel health advisory for the latest, location‑specific advice before travel.