28 Cholera Cases In 25 Days, No Deaths - Dominican Republic

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Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Public Health;  GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 11 Dec 2010 - 17:00 PDT


The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Health reports 28 confirmed cases of cholera during the last 25 days, and no deaths due to the infection. The first officially reported case in the country was detected on 15th November, when Wilmo Louwef, a Haitain aged 32 was diagnosed with the infection. Lowef had come into the country from neighboring Haiti on 12th November two days after symptoms of cholera started to emerge.

Cholera cases in the Dominican Republic have been reported in Santiago (11), Santo Domingo (7), Elias Piña (6), Valverde (1), Independencia (1) and San Juan de la Maguana (1).

Five cases, three male and two female have been reported in Banica and Elias Piña. Two women aged 36 and 86 were diagnosed with cholera in Hato del Yaque and Santiago.

Bautista Rojas Gómez, health minister, said a suspected case of diarrhea and headache in Dajabon was, in fact malaria, not cholera. The patient is recovering at a clinic in Dajabon.

According to the Ministry of Health, 17 confirmed cases of cholera include people who have not been out of the country recently. Ten of these patients are under the age of 15.

Health authorities have not yet determined why cholera continues in Santiago and the central region of the country.

According to Dominican Republic newspaper, Listin Diario, the Ministry of Public Health has confirmed 5 new cholera cases during the past 24 hours - three in the municipality of Bánica (Elías Piña province), two in Hato de Yaque, Santiago.

Public health authorities in the country say that the situation is under control and preventive measures are being intensified.

Various street markets have been close down temporarily as a public health preventive measure. Until public toilets in some street markets have been upgraded, authorities are concerned about the leakage of sewage during periods of heavy downpours.

Sources: El Nacional (local newspaper), Listin Diario (local newspaper)

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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