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Dominican Republic: Cases of Cholera Increase
Santo Domingo, Aug 26 (Prensa Latina) The number of people affected by cholera in the Dominican southern province of San Cristobal, the nearest to the west of the nation, increased to 50 percent this weekend, medical sources said here Monday.
Doctor Manuel Geraldino, director of the Juan Pablo Pina Hospital, said 17 new cases were hospitalized between Saturday and Sunday, the most serious, a woman with 38 weeks of pregnancy.
Because of the outbreak the minimum alert was issued three days ago, and the provincial public health director, Manuel Hilario, said to reporters the problem is under control
Public Health Vice Minister Rafael Schiffino said the incidence of the outbreak may have its origin in the difficulties for drinkable water supply and the trash recollection.
Cholera is transmitted by means of consuming contaminated liquids and foods with faecal material containing the bacteria Vibrio Cholerae, producing diarrhoea, vomits, fever, and even death.
After more than 100 years of absence, the disease was registered in the Dominican Republic in November 2010, one month after it had appeared in Haiti.
For almost three years, 25,000 cases were reported, the last of them at the northern province of Espaillat at the end of 2012.
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