Cholera fears incite lynching of voodoo priests in Haiti

While voodoo is followed or practiced in some religious services in Haiti, fear has led to lynching voodoo priests in reprisal.

An accusation that spells were cast and evil doings led to the devastating earthquake that hit the country have been inflamed with the cholera epidemic sweeping the nation. Characterized by diarrhea and vomiting the use of antibiotics, rehydration and improvement in sanitary conditions can treat the condition. Among the many causes that have been cited is the presence of Nepalese UN peace keeping forces that come from a country where cholera is prevalent. Unsanitary conditions from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January 2010 that killed an estimated 250,000 people. The BBC reports: “Officials counted 40 people killed - mostly voodoo priests - killed in one region of Haiti, the AFP news agency reported, with five others killed elsewhere.” The Haitian communications minister stated that education to gain a better understanding of the causes and spread of cholera was an answer to the crisis.