Malaria is transmitted to people by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.FILE/LD
During the last week, the epidemiological surveillance system received the notification of 165 suspected malaria cases, and three were confirmed, bringing to 984 the cumulative number of confirmed cases of the disease transmitted to people by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.
This year, the country registered an increase of 276% in reported malaria cases compared to last year, when the cumulative number of confirmed cases was 265.
The provinces with the highest incidence of cases are Azua, San Juan, and Bahoruco. The country maintains a cumulative malaria incidence of 9.99 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, the Ministry of Public Health attributes the increase in cases to the restructuring of surveillance, with a renewed emphasis on active search, particularly in migrant communities and farmworker settlements on farms.
It highlights that intensifying febrile case search strategies in communities is a key part of national efforts to eliminate malaria in the country.
Dengue drops by 63%
Likewise, the epidemiological bulletin corresponding to week 48, which covers the data until November 30, also reports the report of 36 suspected cases and three confirmed cases of dengue, whose confirmed cases this year register a reduction of 63% compared to the same period last year.
The report indicates the highest proportion of suspected dengue cases by province of residence are in Santiago, Santo Domingo, and Duarte.
The cumulative number of suspected cases of dengue until week 48 is 10,101, and the number of confirmed cases is 1,271.
The Ministry of Public Health indicates that the Dr. Defilló National Public Health Reference Laboratory (LNRSPDD) has processed 8,976 dengue tests, of which 14.4% were positive.
Among the positive samples, the DENV-3 serotype was detected in 43.3% of cases, while the DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes accounted for 56%.
Leptospirosis
Regarding leptospirosis, the epidemiological report specifies that eight suspected cases were reported in the last week, and none were confirmed.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases so far this year is 35 cases, with a cumulative incidence of 0.36 per 100,000 inhabitants of confirmed cases.
San José de Ocoa, Monte Cristi, and Dajabón are among the provinces that reported the highest leptospirosis cases.