2011/11/01 by Deborah Jenson, Victoria Szabo · 3 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Vibrio bacteria research studies #Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research #Travel-related health issues
paper · pdf · doi:10.3201/eid1711.110958
openalex publication_date 2011/11/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Medical journals and other sources do not show evidence that cholera occurred in Haiti before 2010, despite the devastating effect of this disease in the Caribbean region in the 19th century. Cholera occurred in Cuba in 1833-1834; in Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Nevis, Trinidad, the Bahamas, St. Vincent, Granada, Anguilla, St. John, Tortola, the Turks and Caicos, the Grenadines (Carriacou and Petite Martinique), and possibly Antigua in 1850-1856; and in Guadeloupe, Cuba, St. Thomas, the Dominican Republic, Dominica, Martinique, and Marie Galante in 1865-1872. Conditions associated with slavery and colonial military control were absent in independent Haiti. Clustered populations, regular influx of new persons, and close quarters of barracks living contributed to spread of cholera in other Caribbean locations. We provide historical accounts of the presence and spread of cholera epidemics in Caribbean islands.