The Ministry of Health of the Dominican Republic confirmed this Thursday the detection of three cases of chikungunya, all from Cuba, but clarified that so far there is no community transmission in the national territory.
The three cases “were identified through the national epidemiological surveillance system and confirmed through tests carried out at the Dr. Defilló National Reference Laboratory, as part of the routine protocol for the early detection of arboviruses,” said the ministry in a statement.
However, the Minister of Health, Víctor Atallah, assured that the population “can rest assured” because “we are monitoring the situation daily and we have teams on the ground. The important thing is to redouble prevention.”
Chikungunya is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and causes symptoms similar to dengue, with severe joint pain and fever.
In the statement, the Dominican Health authorities indicated that given the sustained increase in cases in the Caribbean region, especially in Cuba, they ordered the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance actions, the active search for febrile cases in communities and the intensification of vector control days, which include fumigation, elimination of breeding sites and community orientation.
Likewise, health supervision measures remain reinforced at airports, ports and border crossings.
The Ministry also reported that preparation and response protocols in health centers have been strengthened, guaranteeing diagnostic capacity, adequate clinical management and timely care if necessary.
These actions follow the recommendations of the Pan American and World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) regarding the risk of reintroduction of chikungunya in countries without active transmission.
The local health authorities reiterated the call to the population to maintain prevention from home, eliminating objects that accumulate water, covering tanks, using repellents and collaborating with community junk removal, fumigation and orientation days.
