In its bulletin corresponding to Epidemiological Week Number 13, the Directorate of Epidemiology (DIEPI) shows that most diseases under special surveillance maintain a downward trend.
Among these health events are leptospirosis, cholera, COVID-19, human rabies, and other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as meningococcal disease, diphtheria, and polio.
Likewise, this week, the number of dengue cases continued to be low, with six cases reported. Children between one and four years of age were the most affected. Up to the 13th epidemiological week, there were 58 cases of the disease.
Nine confirmed cases of malaria remain in the already identified hotspots (San Juan, Azua, and Santo Domingo). This year, there have been 135 cases, and the accumulated incidence stands at 5.02 per 100,000 inhabitants.
No cases of leptospirosis have been recorded for this week. The accumulated number of confirmed cases is 20 this year, and the incidence of suspected cases is 0.75 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The DIEPI bulletin highlights the circulation of several respiratory viruses, such as influenza A (H1N1) pdm09, Influenza A (h3n2), Adenovirus, and SARS COV-2, for which the Ministry of Public Health has reinforced monitoring and case-control strategies through sentinel surveillance and virological analysis.
It urges people to take preventive measures, such as frequent hand washing, mask use in people with flu-like symptoms, and going to the nearest health center in case of fever or general malaise.
Maternal and infant deaths
In epidemiological week 13, two maternal deaths were reported, corresponding to women of Haitian nationality. The accumulated number of cases is 42 deaths up to this epidemiological week; last year, there were 49 accumulated deaths on the same date.
Twenty-eight infant deaths were reported this week, compared to 36 deaths reported the previous year, reflecting a reduction in the indicator. The accumulated total is 448 deaths this year, and in 2024, 557 deaths were reported at the same date.
