Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Senate has approved the first reading of a bill that aims to strengthen the prohibition of hookah use in public and private spaces. The initiative, presented by Senator Virgilio Cedano from La Altagracia, seeks to expand the scope of the ban to better protect the health and environment.

The proposed legislation modifies Article 3 of Law 16-19, which currently prohibits the use of hookahs in closed, covered places, vehicles, squares, parks, stadiums, and other areas where people gather for recreational or sporting purposes.

The bill highlights the risks associated with hookah smoke, which contains toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These harmful emissions can have severe health consequences for vulnerable individuals, including older adults, pregnant women, and children who are often exposed to secondhand smoke in public places.

This effort follows a similar move by the mayor of Higüey in La Altagracia province, Karina Aristy, who banned the use of vapers, hookahs, and alcohol consumption in squares and parks in her municipality last June. The new bill aims to take a similar approach nationwide, promoting a safer and healthier environment for all citizens.

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Santo Domingo – Infectious diseases continue to affect the population in the Dominican Republic, with dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis among the most prevalent.

However, leptospirosis continues to claim lives, with two new deaths, for a total of 26 so far this year, standing out as a threat to the population, especially in this period of rains and floods.

The Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Public Health report indicates that Epidemiological Week SE 26 registered two new deaths due to leptospirosis, a disease transmitted by animal urine, mainly mice, whose symptoms are similar to those of other infections. This SE 26 covers the period from June 23 to 29.

Nine cases of leptospirosis were reported in just one week, for a total of 305 so far this year. Of these, 35% are suspected, 13% probable, 8.52% ruled out, and only 8% (24/305) are confirmed cases, states the Public Health Bulletin.

“Of all reported cases, the male sex has been the most affected with 73% (229/305). The accumulated incidence of is 5.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with the province of Monte Cristi having the highest incidence with 73.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants,” he adds about the behavior of this disease.

Dengue
The incidence of dengue, a disease transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has a record of 8,312 suspected cases, of which 670 were reported in the last four epidemiological weeks and 146 during week 26. According to Public Health, confirmed cases to date total 935, and nine deaths have occurred.
In SE 26, seven cases were confirmed, and no deaths.

“Of the confirmed cases as of SE 26,minors are the most affected, with 80%. The male sex accounts for 51%, while the municipalities with the highest number of cases are Santiago, San Francisco de Macoris, Puerto Plata, San Juan, San Jose de Ocoa, and Espaillat province”, specifically about dengue.

Malaria
So far this year, 26,875 suspected cases of malaria have been reported, of which 572 were positive by laboratory tests, and another five were confined during this period.
The number of cases of this disease, also transmitted by mosquito bites, has increased by 278% in the country compared to the previous year, when there were 151.
The accumulated incidence is 10.72 per 100,000 inhabitants. Azua and San Juan provinces have reported 95% of the cases.

Maternal deaths
Three maternal deaths were reported during this epidemiological week, of which one was Dominican and two were Haitian, with a mean age of 30 years and a range of 29-31 years.
They resided in the provinces of Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Azua. From SE 1 to SE 26 of 2024, 85 maternal deaths were reported, of which 56% (48/85) were Dominican and 44% (37/85) were Haitian.

Infant deaths
Regarding infant deaths, during SE 26 of 2024, 46 deaths were reported. This represents a 32% decrease compared to the same period of the previous year. Neonatal infant deaths also reflect a 35% decrease compared to 2023. “Although this decrease is encouraging, it is important to continue working to reduce infant mortality and ensure the health and well-being of children,” Public Health expresses in its report.

Santo Domingo, DR – The families living in “La Cueva,” in the Maquiteria sector of Villa Duarte, Santo Domingo East municipality, where, according to neighbors, three children have died of suspected dengue fever, live amidst accumulated water and garbage in a septic tank which reflects the poor hygiene.

The apparent sewage drain has a deteriorated metal cover with several holes. According to residents, the surrounding cement cover has a hole through which water comes out when it is completely full and overflows in times of downpours. The constant dripping of water from the “cave” produces a humidity that covers several of the zinc-roofed houses below.

“There are too many mosquitoes here, too many, too many mosquitoes, just that hole over there is full of water and mosquitoes,” said Franklin Ogando, a resident of the area.
Elainy Pérez’s neighbors and relatives attribute the death of her son and two other children in the area with suspected dengue fever to this calamitous situation.

Mauricio Perez, the father of the nine-year-old girl who died on July 2nd, says that the infant presented fever, vomited once, and had bruises and convulsions until she lost her life while she was being taken to a medical center.
Perez indicated that up to the moment, the information provided by the medical center where she was treated indicated that it could have been dengue fever. However, they are still waiting for the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif) to deliver the autopsy results.

She said that her daughter spent much time playing in the houses near the sewer.
“When it rains, it is a total mess, a lagoon,” said Perez when talking about the hole.
The last case registered in this sector, with suspicions, is about a girl who was one year and seven months old and died last Wednesday at the Robert Read Cabral Hospital.

Ercilia Hernandez, the infant’s great-grandmother, said that she had a high fever and that she immediately went to take her to the Los Mina maternity hospital. Still, when the fever went down, she was sent home.
Hernandez said that in the early hours of the morning, “she felt hot” again and vomited. She explains that at that moment, she decided to take her to the polyclinic of Villa Duarte, where she was assisted and put on oxygen until she was referred to the Robert Read Cabral Hospital.

Although the neighbors speculate about the situation, Hernandez expressed that he prefers to know the results of the autopsy that will be delivered in 45 days.
As of midday this Saturday, the Inacif had not delivered the body of the deceased to the relatives, who were desperately waiting outside the institution.

INTERVENTION OF THE AUTHORITIES

Some families go further and show their concern about the issue. Because of this, they ask Public Health to come to their aid, inspect the place, sanitize it, and carry out fumigation campaigns.

The following communities will be fogged on Monday: Sealy Hall, Consett Bay Cul-de-sac, Codrington, Sargeant Street, Welch Town, Coach Hill, Haynes Hill, and Colleton Gardens.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Cliff Cottage, Colleton Tenantry, Glebe Land, Pothouse, Edge Cliff, Hothersal Tenantry, Edge Cliff Gardens, Malvern, and surrounding areas will be visited by the Unit.

The team will spray Clifton Hall, Church View, New Castle, New Castle Park, Zores, Martin’s Bay, St Margaret’s Village, and Glenburnie on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the districts which will be targeted are Hackleton’s Cliff, Horton Village, Venture Nos. 1 to 4, Mount Tabor Heights, Sherbourne Nos. 1 to 3, Sherbourne Gardens, Wilson Hill, Claybury Tenantry, and Easy Hall.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude in St. Michael, on Friday, July 19. The Unit will go into Henry Dunant Road, 1st to 3rd North Friendship Drive, Friendship Terrace, 1st to 3rd Lowland Drive, Green Hill Main Road, Mahaica Gap, Storey Gap, and Lewis Gap.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the fog.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

The post Fogging in St John and St Michael this week appeared first on Barbados Today.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness strongly refutes a statement made in a section of the press that indicated Barbadians’ health was at risk during the recently concluded T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The facts are as follows:

During Cricket World Cup, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in conjunction with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), instituted a real-time surveillance system to capture all possible public health events that could have occurred. We received daily reports on the status of public health during all of the Cricket World Cup matches.

The surveillance started before, during, and a week after Cricket World Cup. At no time was there any infectious disease outbreak that warranted public health intervention.

The management of public health during the World Cup was commendable and the public remained safe at all times.

We deployed several environmental health and surveillance officers, along with public health nurses, to ensure our surveillance was strengthened throughout the Cricket World Cup.

With respect to Hill Milling Co. Ltd., the environmental health team in the Ministry of Health and Wellness is working with the management of Hill Milling to ensure the food supply remains safe.

There is no outbreak associated with Hill Milling Co. Ltd., and we will continue to work with the company to have outstanding matters resolved.

The Ministry encourages the public to use reputable sources and refrain from using unofficial and unverified sources to obtain their information.

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Prominent singer Jan Keiser, the daughter of renowned songstress Carlyn Leacock, has appealed for public support following costly hip replacement surgery in Lithuania.

The former Spice and Company lead singer who is a central member of the praise team at the First Baptist Church underwent the procedure to address injuries stemming from a near-fatal car accident several decades ago.

Her uncle, Pastor Paul Leacock, told Barbados TODAY that the collision, which involved a lorry overtaking another vehicle and colliding with Keiser’s car, left her with lasting physical trauma that eventually necessitated the operation.

“Not one to remain quiet for long, Jan looks forward to returning to ministering on Sundays at her First Baptist Church and at all the other forums where she performs occasionally,” Pastor Leacock said.

To assist with significant medical expenses and ongoing therapy costs, a benefit concert, For the Love of Jan, will be held on Saturday at 6.30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church on Constitution Road. Admission is free and attendees are encouraged to donate generously.

The event will feature performances from numerous artists, including Tamara Marshall, Paula Hinds, ZigE Walcott, Pastor Leacock, and the First Baptist chorale and liturgical dancers.

The concert organisers hope the community will rally behind Keiser, described as “one of the beloved members of the Leacock clan of singers”, as she recovers and aims to resume her musical activities.

Now back home recuperating, Keiser said she was surprised that several other Barbadians have had surgeries at the same facility she attended in Lithuania.

The post Singer seeks aid after life-saving hip surgery abroad appeared first on Barbados Today.

Santo Domingo.- In the latest bulletin for epidemiological week (EW) 26, the Ministry of Health reported 5 new cases of malaria confirmed by laboratory tests, a decrease from the 13 cases reported the previous week.

To date, there have been 26,875 suspected cases of malaria reported this year, with only 2% (572 cases) testing positive. The provinces of Azua and San Juan account for 95% of these cases.

Preventive measures in these provinces include ongoing fumigation, educational campaigns on disease prevention, and active searches for suspected cases.

Regarding dengue, 7 positive cases were reported in EW 26, bringing the total confirmed cases for the year to 935. The incidence of dengue has been declining in recent weeks.

The Ministry of Health, through its Provincial Directorates and Health Areas, continues to implement preventive actions to control and prevent vector-borne diseases. The Ministry urges the public to remain vigilant and to “eliminate, clean, and cover” potential mosquito breeding sites to prevent the spread of these diseases.