Haiti - Health : Suspected cases of Anthrax in Haiti trigger a health alert in Dominican Republic
Given the recent information disseminated in Haitian media concerning a suspected presence of anthrax in Haiti, which has already caused 2 deaths and around ten people hospitalized https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42780-haiti-news-zapping.html , the Dominican Ministries of Defense and Public Health announced that they had activated health security protocols at the border to prevent any possible spread of the disease.
These protocols include strict health controls and reinforced epidemiological surveillance in the border area in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, civil authorities and other specialized state institutions, with regard to entry into the national territory by land, air and sea, of people, baggage and goods coming from Haiti.
However, in a statement, according to reports from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO and Centers) for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), based in Haiti "there is so far no diagnostic confirmation of the disease and current suspicions are based only on preliminary clinical evaluations."
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Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacteria often fatal in animals (sheep, goats, cattle and pigs), which can be transmitted to humans by contact direct or indirect with infected animals or by inhalation of the bacteria present in infected products of animal origin (leather, wool, etc...). Eating undercooked meat from infected animals can also cause anthrax.
