Haiti's government on Sunday announced that at least seven to eight people have died from cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago.

The cases, the first cholera deaths reported in three years, came in a community called Dekayet in southern Port-au-Prince and in the gang-controlled seaside slum of Cite de Soleil, where thousands of people live in cramped, unsanitary conditions.

"According to the information we have, the number of deaths is about seven to eight," said Health Ministry General Director Laure Adrien during a press conference, adding that officials were struggling to get information from hospitals.

"There was one death during the day today," he said, warning that "cholera is something that can spread very, very quickly." 

The deaths come as a lack of fuel and ongoing protests shut down the availability of essential services across Haiti.

Gangs have since last month been blocking the country's main fuel port in protest over last month's announcement of a fuel price hike. Many hospitals have shut down or scaled back operations because of a lack of fuel to power generators, and basic transit is now impossible for most citizens.

Access to medical care and clean water are essential to fighting cholera and keeping patients alive. Food or water contaminated with the cholera bacteria can lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration, which can be deadly.

The United Nations said in a statement that it is working with Haiti's government to "mount an emergency response to this potential outbreak," stressing that health teams need to be guaranteed safe access to areas where cases have been reported.

(With input from agencies)