Caribbean
Dominican Government Declares Cholera State of Alert
- Monday, May 16, 2011 10:10 PM
SANTO DOMINGO, D.R. - A wave of new cholera cases has prompted the Dominican Republic's Health Ministry to declare a state of alert in 17 neighbourhoods in the capital.
Doctors are out in force looking for people with symptoms of the waterborne disease. Vice Minister of Health Jose Rodriguez said Monday that 16 people are hospitalized with suspected cholera. He says all are in stable condition but there have been two deaths in recent days.
Cholera had not been detected in the Dominican Republic until after the outbreak in neighboring Haiti in October. Cholera had not been detected on the island of Kiskeya until a United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) camp arrived in Artibonite, Haiti.
Fourteen people have died from the outbreak, and 750 cases have been detected in the Dominican Republic. Cholera has killed nearly 5,000 in Haiti and infected 300,000.
Related 05.05.2011: Will Martelly Respond to the 'News' that MINUSTAH is Responsible for the Cholera?"
Related 05.05.2011: UN Responsible for 5000 Deaths, 300000 Illnesses, Sill Denying Blame
Related 04.30.2011: Haitian and Dominican Health Ministers Unite to Fight Cholera
Related 04.12.2011: Study: UN Projections of Cholera Innacurate
Related 12.07.2010: La MINUSTAH y la epidemia by Fidel Castro
Source: Canadian Press
