Santo Domingo.– The Ministry of Public Health activated an early warning protocol and reinforced epidemiological surveillance at airports, ports and other entry points in the country due to the circulation of emerging viruses such as Nipah and the increase in influenza cases in several nations.
The Minister of Health, Victor Atallahreported that the Dominican Republic maintains coordination with international health monitoring networks and applies preventive measures aligned with the International Health Regulationswith the aim of strengthening timely detection, notification and rapid response to any health threat.
“Everything that has to do with prevention is being done, not only with this virus, but for all viruses and the areas that they may affect,” said the official.
He indicated that when special alerts are issued worldwide, the country intensifies both maritime and air surveillance and control protocols, and assured that the Dominican Republic is out of danger, working constantly under a preventive approach.
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About the Nipah virus
He Nipah virus (NiV) It is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with high lethality, capable of being transmitted from animals to humans and between people. Belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae and can cause serious clinical conditions that mainly affect the respiratory and neurological systems.
Outbreaks have been recorded mainly in South and Southeast Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Singapore. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a priority pathogen with risk of international health emergency.
Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus They are considered the main reservoir of the virus. These species do not live on the American continent, which reduces the risk of spread in the region.
Among the main routes of contagion are:
- Direct contact with infected animals.
- Consumption of contaminated foods, such as raw palm sap.
- Transmission from person to person.
The incubation period ranges from 4 and 14 daysand the disease can progress to severe complications such as respiratory failure and acute encephalitis.
To date, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment against Nipah virus. Clinical management is based on intensive supportive care and control of complications, which reinforces the importance of prevention and epidemiological surveillance.
