While the Ministry of Health of Haiti already announced nearly 600 cases of cholerapost-Matthew, health authorities in the Dominican Republic (DR) announced a strengthening of preventive health measures on the border with Haiti to prevent the introduction of new cases of cholera in their territory.

Persio Jimenez, the Provincial Director of the Ministry of Public Health in the province of Dajabón (northwest of DR), has asked the population to cooperate with the authorities and to take steps to prevent the spread of this disease.

He specified that these preventive measures were put in place at the border in 2010, but their applications have been strengthened in recent days, emphasizing that all those who enter the Dominican Republic, must submit now to hand washing in disinfection devices installed for this purpose.

In addition, leaflets were distributed to provide guidance on measures to be taken against the threat of cholera from Haiti.

Recall that the Dominican health device to fight against cholera consists of a set of measures, handwashing being a first step. If the Dominican health authorities decide to apply all, this may include disinfection of vehicles and the requirement for people from Haiti, to present a health certificate proving that they are not infected with cholera virus to enter Dominican territory (as has been the case when the virus crossed the border at the beginning of the epidemic in Haiti).

S/ HaitiLibre