Non-fatal Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the Dominican Republic.

Santo Domingo— As international alerts emerge regarding a new variant of COVID-19, the Dominican Republic is experiencing a surge in virus circulation, with 247 new confirmed cases recorded over the past three weeks, including 84 instances detected between June 8 and 14.

As of this year, official records indicate a cumulative total of 681 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In the last week of records, the positivity rate for laboratory samples reached 10%.

In the bulletin for epidemiological week 24, released yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health details that of the 84 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the last week, the National District accounted for 28 cases, Santiago for 19, and Santo Domingo for 8 cases.

The provinces with the highest Cumulative Incidence (CI) were Duarte, with 175.97, and the National District, with 172.07 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The recommendations

The Ministry of Public Health urges the population to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, especially those in at-risk groups. It also recommends wearing a mask indoors, washing hands frequently, and ensuring good ventilation.

It indicates that if the patient experiences a persistent fever or difficulty breathing, they should seek medical advice immediately. Obtain information only from official sources and refrain from spreading unverified information.

Nimbus

Press reports indicate that this week, European health authorities are warning of a potential surge in COVID-19 infections in the coming months due to the emergence of new, rapidly spreading variants of the virus.

Among them is a new Omicron variant, NB.1.8.1, called Nimbus, which is considered more contagious but less deadly. It is a sublineage of the dominant Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

Among the symptoms it presents are fever, fatigue, muscle pain, cough, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and occasionally, a characteristic lacerating pain in the throat.

This month, the World Health Organization (WHO) also reported that it is monitoring a new variant of the coronavirus, designated as B. 1.8.1, but stated that although this strain has led to an increase in COVID-19 infections in various regions, the overall risk to the population is considered low.

Severe respiratory

Likewise, the country has recorded some 734 suspected cases and 28 deaths from Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) so far this year, 40 of which were detected in the last week, as part of the sentinel surveillance carried out by the Epidemiology Directorate of the Ministry of Public Health.

Last year to date, sentinel surveillance had detected 815 suspected cases and five deaths from Severe Acute Respiratory Illness or Syndrome, which is defined as a severe form of pneumonia, the infection of which causes severe discomfort or difficulty breathing and can sometimes lead to death.

According to experts, Acute Respiratory Syndrome (ARS) is a respiratory infection that begins suddenly. It is characterized by a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, cough, and shortness of breath, often requiring mechanical ventilation.

Respiratory viruses

Meanwhile, among the circulating respiratory viruses detected during the week of June 8-14, influenza was the most prevalent, with nearly 13% of the samples analyzed at the Dr. Defilló National Laboratory testing positive last week.

According to the epidemiological report for week 24, released this Thursday by the Ministry of Public Health, during the week of June 8 to 14, 70 respiratory samples were processed confirming the circulation of different viruses, including Influenza A ( H1N1 ) pdm09, Influenza A ( H3N2 ), Influenza B (Victoria lineage), SARS-CoV-2 and Parainfluenza virus.

It indicates that the positivity rate for influenza was 12.9%, while for SARS-CoV-2, or the COVID-19 virus, it was 2.9%. The positivity rate for other respiratory viruses was 4.3%.

Malaria and dengue

In the last week of the report, four cases of malaria were reported, three of which occurred in the provinces of San Juan and Azua, both endemic areas that have maintained active outbreaks of the disease.

So far this year, 435 cases of malaria have been confirmed, of which 50% (217) were concentrated in the Azua focus, followed by San Juan with 41% (177) and Elías Piña, which registered 6% (26) of the cases.

Regarding nationality, 71% (310) of those affected are of Dominican origin, while 29% (125) are Haitian citizens; the most affected group is women between 20 and 29 years old.

Regarding dengue, the report indicates that 128 cases have been confirmed in the Dominican Republic up to week 24, representing an 86% reduction compared to last year. Espaillat province accounted for the largest share, at 10.9%, followed by La Vega with 9.4% and Puerto Plata with 7.8%.

Maternal deaths

The epidemiological report also highlights that no maternal deaths were reported in the country last week, which is attributed to the increased care provided to pregnant women in health centers.

As of week 24, 79 maternal deaths have been reported in the Dominican Republic, representing a decrease of 8 cases compared to the same period last year, when 87 were reported.

The Ministry of Health recommends that pregnant women attend their prenatal checkups on time, maintain a balanced diet, avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances, rest, avoid stress, and take the vitamins and supplements prescribed by medical personnel.

Maternal deaths

Of infant deaths in that last epidemiological week, 23 deaths were reported, for a cumulative total of 771 deaths so far this year, which, compared to the 2024 period, shows a reduction of 242 deaths.

Drug Use and Trafficking

This week’s epidemiological bulletin focuses on the commemoration of the ” International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking ” on June 26. In this regard, the Ministry of Health urged strengthening joint actions to prevent drug use, control trafficking, and protect the health and safety of the population.

He emphasized that strategies to prevent and combat drug abuse and trafficking have been strengthened in the Dominican Republic through a series of coordinated actions among various institutions.

As part of these initiatives, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education have developed prevention and education programs in schools and communities, promoting awareness campaigns and training health promoters.

In the area of ​​treatment and rehabilitation, specialized centers have been implemented to provide comprehensive care to people with addiction, prioritizing not only medical treatment but also social reintegration.

The costs

The report highlights that drug abuse in the Dominican Republic has a significant impact on the rise of communicable and non-communicable diseases associated with drug use, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, mental disorders, and overdoses.

It also leads to an overload of public health services for treatment and rehabilitation; an increase in violence related to drug trafficking and organized crime; and a loss of productivity and increased social costs for the State.

It indicates that a 2022 study by the Ministry of Public Health estimated that spending on drug user care exceeds US$5 million annually.