Dominican Republic confirms mpox cases in San Cristóbal detention center

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Health has confirmed two cases of mpox at a police detention center in San Cristóbal, while seven additional suspected cases remain under laboratory evaluation. Authorities stressed that the outbreak is contained within the facility and that there is no evidence of community transmission.

The cases were identified among detainees during an epidemiological investigation conducted by the General Directorate of Epidemiology (DIGEPI), which detected a total of nine suspected infections.

In response, the ministry activated a Rapid Response Group to carry out contact tracing, active case finding, clinical evaluations, sample collection, and inspections of sanitary conditions at the detention center.

Health officials also placed all identified contacts under monitoring, strengthened epidemiological surveillance, and recommended measures to improve hygiene and reinforce health protocols inside the facility.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the outbreak remains localized, and no additional infections linked to the cluster have been detected. Authorities will continue monitoring the situation until all laboratory results are available and contact tracing is completed.

The ministry urged the public to seek information through official channels and emphasized that early detection, prompt reporting of suspected cases, and adherence to preventive measures remain the most effective strategies to prevent the spread of mpox.

The World Health Organization says mpox is a viral disease that commonly causes a skin rash or mucosal lesions, along with fever, headaches, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue.