Santo Domingo – In the Dominican Republic, 48 suspected cases were reported during the 36th epidemiological week, and no confirmed cases of the viral disease were confirmed. Likewise, there were nine deaths due to the disease and 31 deaths due to leptospirosis.

The new cases of dengue fever are geographically distributed as follows: 21% in Hermanas Mirabal, 19% in Barahona, and 15% in Santo Domingo. According to the Epidemiology report, 52% of the cases affected females in the 10 to 10 age group.

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegyti mosquito. It is advised that mosquito breeding sites be avoided.

Suspected cases
As of epidemiological week 36, a total of 9,300 suspected cases have been reported, of which 1,089 have been confirmed for dengue. The National Public Health Reference Laboratory D has processed 8,307 dengue tests, of which 14% of the tests were positive. Among the positive samples, dengue-3 serotype was detected in 35%, while 64% corresponded to dengue-1 and dengue-2 serotypes. Of the suspected dengue cases, 84% have received care in health facilities, while 15% have been treated on an outpatient basis and 0.6% have been referred to other services.

The epidemiological surveillance system also recorded 729 cases of malaria and 384 cases of leptospirosis.

Santo Domingo – The Ministry of Public Health yesterday highlighted the challenge posed to health systems by dementias caused by various diseases and brain injuries, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common, representing between 60% and 70% of cases.

In view of this reality, he is developing a plan based on Law 352-98 and the “Dementia Response Plan in the Dominican Republic 2020-2025,” which focuses on improving the quality of life of people with dementia, their caregivers, and their family members.

The plan, explains the Ministry of Public Health, proposes four lines of action: strengthening public policies, promoting health and preventing dementia in the community, improving access to comprehensive care, and developing information and monitoring systems.

In addition, it emphasizes multisectoral collaboration and the promotion of human rights.

The details of the plan are contained in epidemiological bulletin number 36, released yesterday by the Ministry of Public Health. This bulletin highlights Alzheimer’s disease as a central issue of interest.

She says that dementia is a syndrome that causes memory loss, communication problems, and mood swings due to brain damage, which is progressive and requires care as it progresses.

Remember that, although there is no cure, early diagnosis and symptom management can improve quality of life.

Risk factors can be identified and modified to prevent cognitive decline.

Population ageing

It highlights that, in the Dominican Republic, the proportion of people over 60 has increased from 2.7% in 1950 to 6.1% in 2015 and is estimated to reach 15.2% by 2050.

It points out that the country’s population over 65 years of age grew from 3.7% in 1981 to 9.3% in 2014. Life expectancy has also increased, from 46.1 years between 1950 and 1955 to 71.0 years in 2010, and is expected to reach 79.6 years by 2050.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a progressive disease that begins with mild memory loss and can lead to an inability to hold a conversation and respond to the environment.

It highlights that in the Region of the Americas, more than 10 million people are living with dementia, and the number is estimated to double every 20 years, with Latin America and the Caribbean experiencing a significant increase from 3.4 million in 2010 to 7.6 million in 2030.

The Ministry of Public Health report highlights that, currently, more than 55 million people in the world live with dementia, and more than 60% of them are in low- and middle-income countries. Almost ten million new cases are registered every year.

Women are disproportionately affected, as they face higher rates of disability and mortality due to dementia, as well as performing 70% of the hours of care for those who suffer from it.

Dementias have a significant economic impact, with a global cost of $818 billion in 2015, and it is estimated that by 2030 they could exceed $1 trillion.

In the Caribbean, the cost of dementia increased by 18.2% between 2010 and 2015.

Punta Cana – Health care from the moment of myocardial infarction is an Achilles heel. However, the subject is not as obscure as it used to be. Specialists at the Dominican Society of Cardiology Congress in Punta Cana, Higüey, discussed this aspect.

In this scenario, the Minister of Public Health, Victor Atallah, and other physicians stated that deaths due to heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of death in cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and therefore insisted that timely attention and timely intervention is the most important thing.

Atallah assured us that the National Health Network would solve part of the problem. “But we are better off. In the National Health Network we are going to reduce to less than two hours the time from when the symptom occurs, to receiving treatment,” he commented.

While participating in the Congress of the American College of Cardiology, which is taking place in Punta Cana, the doctor said that they are working with hospitals and the 9-1-1 Emergency System so that, through an application, the patient is received at the health center and attended to immediately.

Dr. Licurgo Cruz, governor of the Dominican Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, said that variables still allow for slow attention.

Among these, he cited the idiosyncrasy of the patient who self-medicates and seeks care late.

He valued the role of the 9-1-1 System in improving the situation and the availability of life-saving drugs.

Punta Cana – Dominican gastroenterologists and those from other countries will meet next week in Punta Cana to discuss an agenda full of scientific content. Dr. Claralí Almonte, president of the Dominican Society of Gastroenterology (SDG), announced this, saying it is her most important annual scientific activity.

The congress will be held from September 26 to 29 at the International Convention Center in Punta Cana.

The XXXII edition of the meeting is dedicated to Dr. Julio Camarena Trabous, a prominent Dominican gastroenterologist, professor, and past president of the SDG, who will be honored for his career.

Almonte said that the activity is international and will have as its motto “Integration in the approach to digestive pathologies.” It will bring together renowned national specialists and international guests to exchange experiences, approaches, and studies on the latest research related to gastroenterology and digestive pathologies.

They will also discuss training, updating, and growth strategies for gastroenterologists.

“The agenda to be developed in this congress has been prepared with a broad vision and a comprehensive approach adapted to the new times and aimed at responding to the great challenges of health and, especially, of gastroenterology,” said Dr. Almonte.

It is an exchange of experiences among the participants, said the doctor.

Bayahibe.- The ninth edition of the Bayahíbe race, set for September 22, will see at least 600 participants competing to support the Solca Foundation, which promotes social and educational projects for vulnerable youth. The event is organized by the La Romana Bayahíbe Hotel Association (AHRB) and the La Romana Bayahibe Tourism Cluster (CTRB), with support from the Bayahíbe Municipal District.

The race will begin at 7:00 am from La Punta de Bayahíbe. Over 70 personnel from various security and emergency services, including the Tourist Police and the National Emergency System (911), will ensure runner safety. This year’s race, notable for its mixed asphalt and sand course, is described by Ana García-Sotoca of AHRB and CTRB as a milestone for integrating sports and offering a unique experience.

The event, supported by Santo Domingo Corre, expects 38% female participants, particularly between 30 and 50 years old. It is designed for runners aiming to complete the 10 kilometers in 40 to 55 minutes. Participants will receive medals, with prizes awarded to the top finishers in several categories. The event will also feature entertainment such as Zumba, a foam party, live DJs, and various raffles. Major sponsors include Mitur, Banreservas, and various local businesses and resorts.

National Territory, DR – In the Dominican Republic, the indicators that show deterioration of mental health have skyrocketed; one of them, traffic congestion, raises these stressors.

Dr. José Miguel Gómez Montero, psychiatrist and writer, analyzed the topic.

“This is a society trapped with a culture of high dangerousness, citizen insecurity, noise and blockage,” said the specialist, explaining that society is macro-stressed and, consequently, mental health indicators are skyrocketing.

Next, he specified: “The streets of the largest cities in the country are crowded with vehicles of various modalities, cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and scooters. It can be reviewed in any demarcation of the Dominican Republic.”

He referred to the blackouts as an indicator of deterioration in the quality of public services and said that there is a deficit in public and environmental policies aimed at improving people’s quality of life.

The proposal

“The proposal is that the mayors’ offices continue to organize the parks, that the traffic lights work, and that, in Santo Domingo, the transit of high-cylinder trucks is prohibited on the boardwalk,” the doctor and writer said.

The doctor believes that more recreational areas should be built in cities and that the Government should make a greater effort to improve the electricity system. “People get irritated by the heat due to the lack of electricity, which prevents them from sleeping well. Likewise, everything is complicated in large cities with road blockages.”

Noise is highly harmful to mental health, said the professional, specifying that people occupy the sidewalks and that the authorities do not take measures.

He referred to those who use public roads to make sales or wash their windows, an action added to the plugs at intersections.

“It is necessary to develop efficient social policies, which restore peace, tranquility and harmony to the population,” said the doctor.

He said that improving mental health indicators and creating a safer, more spiritual, and comfortable city are necessary. He said that all this was planned.

The reality

In the Dominican Republic, the plugs manifest themselves at any time of the day. A blockage can last for a prolonged period, and people become desperate.

The situation has become complicated with the opening of the school year, which means that tutors take to the streets from the early hours of the morning.

For the public road to be blocked, 10 minutes is enough; it can cost an hour.

Dominicans have experienced anxiety, stress, and a deterioration of mental health in recent years. It would be necessary to expand and adapt important points of the Juan Pablo Duarte highway and the construction of the marginal Los Alcarrizos. Both projects are underway and have been established in traffic studies.

Bus corridors on central routes are initiatives that have a favorable impact.

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader addressed the Haitian crisis’s impact on the Dominican Republic during a recent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Abinader highlighted the strain the situation places on the Dominican Republic’s migration, health, and education systems.

At a press conference, Abinader noted that approximately 6.5% of the Dominican Republic’s students, around 147,000, are of Haitian nationality. He also revealed that Haitian migrants account for 14% of hospitalizations and 34% of births in public hospitals, a situation he claimed is unprecedented in global health systems.

Abinader expressed concern over the increased migratory pressure resulting from the crisis, which affects public services and poses security risks. He emphasized the need for additional support from the multinational security support mission (MCS) and resources to strengthen the UN trust fund. The President also highlighted the importance of renewing the MCS mandate in October.

He reiterated the Dominican Republic’s commitment to working with the United States on regional security and stability, while acknowledging differences in perspectives on certain issues.

Santo Domingo – No active cases of monkeypox have been reported in the country at the moment; however, the Ministry of Public Health has informed that it is carrying out the corresponding studies to rule out some reports.
The information was released by the Minister of Health, Victor Atallah, who stated this Saturday that, despite the many reports, no specific case has been proven.

“All those that are reported to us we are informing them and doing the appropriate work,” said Atallah, while making the caveat that the oropouche is not found in Dominican territory and is a disease that is treated like any other vector-borne disease.

According to the minister, there is no need to travel to treat Oropouche, and the same measures will be followed against dengue.

“Oropouche is a disease that is current in many countries. We detected it because we did investigations in cases that were negative to dengue, and we searched, right now we do not have active cases, but we continue monitoring and falling back to the diseases,” he said.

Santo Domingo – According to epidemiological reports from the Ministry of Public Health, the circulation of influenza A (H3N2) is the only respiratory virus detected this week during the sentinel surveillance in the country’s health facilities.

In its epidemiological bulletin 33, released yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health also reported a low incidence of dengue, malaria, and leptospirosis cases. It highlights that from 2023 to 2024, 1,724 new cases of hepatitis were reported to the surveillance system.

The report, which records cases up to August 17, reports that only one case of dengue was reported in the last week and that, to date, 1,032 confirmed cases of the disease have been registered. The provinces of Santiago, Puerto Plata, and Duarte account for 49% of those infected.
Dengue is a disease transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and affects people of all ages. Symptoms range from mild to incapacitating fever, accompanied by intense headache, pain behind the eyes, pain in muscles and joints, and erythema.

Regarding malaria, the epidemiological report indicates that no new cases were reported in the last week and that 31,176 suspected cases have been reported so far this year, of which 718 have been confirmed. It indicates that the onset of symptoms has significantly decreased in the last three weeks compared to the previous three weeks.
The report also indicates that during the last week, only one suspected case of rosis was reported in a 15-year-old male resident of Santo Domingo. To date, 355 suspected cases have been reported, of which 31 have been confirmed. It notes that the most significant decrease in cases reported this year was recorded last week.

Hepatitis B and C
The Ministry of Public Health dedicated the edition of the epidemiological bulletin for week 33 to the topic “Advances of the HIV, STI, and Hepatitis Program in the Dominican Republic.””
It reports that from 2023 to 2024, 1,724 new cases of hepatitis have been reported to the surveillance system, with the most affected age group being female, aged 60 years or older.
This indicates that the five liver units report having approximately 650 patients treated with Hepatitis B.

The report states that in the Dominican Republic 2023, 1,724 cases of Hepatitis B and 1,001 cases of Hepatitis C were reported. Likewise, 557 births to mothers with Hepatitis B were reported.
It emphasizes that vaccination against hepatitis B is part of the Division of Immunopreventable by Vaccines (DIV) and is administered to all newborns, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations. It also highlights the actions aimed at prevention and guaranteeing the treatment of patients that the country maintains.

Santo Domingo – Eliminating weeds from yards and gardens and keeping the surroundings of homes clean are among the recommendations made to the population by the Ministry of Public Health to avoid the presence of the mosquito and the culex mosquito, the two main vectors transmitting the Oropouche virus.

The virus, which has been spreading in different countries of the Americas region, was detected this week in the country in samples analyzed at the Dr. Defillo National Laboratory, which had initially tested negative for dengue.
Public Health reminds us that both vectors are present in the country, and the virus is transmitted through their bites. The symptoms of Oropouche are similar to those of dengue, including sudden fever, headache, joint stiffness, and, in some cases, double vision and persistent vomiting.

In the presence of these symptoms, health authorities advise the population to seek medical attention.

Use of mosquito nets
They also recommend mosquito nets during daytime naps, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, infants, and people with immunocompromised conditions. They also recommend removing trash and cleaning environments, among other preventive measures similar to those for dengue.

By issuing an epidemiological alert for Oropouche this Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Health instructed the Provincial Health Directorates (DPS) to increase vector surveillance actions and continue educating the population on preventive measures, such as the use of mosquito nets and the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.

He reported that he coordinates with the National Health Service (SNS) to ensure the timely implementation of care protocols. Without treatment, clinical evaluation by professionals is crucial.
He recalled that there is no specific treatment for this disease, so he urged the population to seek immediate medical attention upon the appearance of these symptoms.

The countries in the Americas region where the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has identified cases are Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, and Colombia.

High fever
The incubation period of Oropouche disease is 3 to 10 days and usually begins with the abrupt onset of high fever, severe headache, chills, myalgia, and joint pain, which may initially be confused with dengue, chikungunya, Zika, or malaria.

Other symptoms of Oropouche include photophobia, dizziness, retro-orbital or ocular pain, nausea and vomiting, or a rash that starts on the trunk and spreads to the extremities. In four percent of cases, this rash can cause neurological manifestations.

Oropouche was first detected in 1955 near the river of the same name in Trinidad, followed by several outbreaks in Brazil towards the end of the last century.