Dominican Republic strengthens Anthrax surveillance amid suspected cases in Haiti

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic has no reported cases of anthrax, but the Ministry of Public Health has strengthened epidemiological surveillance as Haitian authorities investigate suspected cases of the disease in southwestern Haiti.

Health Minister Víctor Atallah said the preventive measures are intended to ensure that health services can quickly identify and respond to any potential cases. He emphasized that the country is not facing a public health emergency.

“We have strengthened surveillance as a preventative measure, and our health services are prepared to promptly identify any suspected cases,” Atallah said.

Suspected cases under investigation in Haiti

Haitian authorities are investigating 13 suspected anthrax cases in Baliverne, in the Dame-Marie commune of Haiti’s Grand’Anse department. Two deaths have been reported among those under investigation, although anthrax has not been confirmed as the cause.

Possible exposure through contact with sick livestock is being investigated.

Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and primarily affects livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. Humans can become infected through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.

The disease is not generally transmitted between people, making person-to-person transmission a relatively low risk. Prevention focuses on epidemiological and animal-health surveillance, including monitoring the movement of livestock and animal products.

Dominican health authorities increase monitoring

The Ministry of Public Health is coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Directorate of Livestock, as well as international health organizations, to strengthen monitoring and early detection.

Guidelines for healthcare workers on identifying and immediately reporting suspected cases have also been reinforced. The country maintains diagnostic capacity through the Dr. Defilló National Reference Laboratory.

Authorities urged the public to rely on official information and reiterated that the measures are part of the Dominican Republic’s routine health surveillance and preparedness protocols.

Public Health will continue monitoring the situation in coordination with national institutions and the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).