Public Health confirms 15 cases of dengue this week
The Ministry of Public Health reported that it is intensifying dengue prevention and control efforts throughout the country, with an emphasis on areas with the highest incidence, through campaigns to eliminate breeding grounds, targeted fumigation, epidemiological surveillance, active case finding, and door-to-door outreach, in coordination with public institutions, community organizations, and the private sector.
According to the epidemiological bulletin for week 40 of 2026, 15 dengue cases were confirmed last week, bringing the year-to-date total to 415. La Altagracia has the most cases, with 131, followed by La Romana with 37 and Puerto Plata with 33.
As part of this response, interventions are underway in various provinces, with reinforced operations in the areas with the most cases. In La Altagracia, efforts are concentrated in Higüey and Verón-Bávaro, with the aim of reducing breeding grounds for the transmitting mosquito and facilitating the timely detection of potential case
In that province, the provincial director of Health, Wendy Castillo, led a fumigation campaign in the Vista Hermosa, Cerro Lindo, Villa Palmera, and Brisa Duey neighborhoods. The operation covered 114 streets, reached 342 homes, and benefited 1,242 people.
During the door-to-door interventions, the teams visited an additional 433 homes and eliminated 96 breeding sites in water tanks. They also inspected 355 tanks, 37 of which contained mosquito larvae. As part of the preventative measures, they applied larvicides (BTI and Abate) and distributed liquid chlorine, tank covers, and mosquito nets.
As part of the epidemiological surveillance component, they conducted active case finding in health facilities and communities in Higüey, Anamuya, and Verón. At the Anamuya Primary Care Unit, staff identified ten people with fever and headache, eight of them children, and collected samples for analysis. Additionally, teams monitored four confirmed cases in Villa Cerro through interventions in nearby homes and guidance provided to families.
The Ministry also trained hospital epidemiologists and National Health Service (NHS) staff on timely notification, sample collection, data recording, and completing epidemiological forms to strengthen case detection, notification, and follow-up.
The strategy also includes coordination with local authorities, emergency response agencies, educational institutions, community organizations, and representatives from the tourism and business sectors. At a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Group (GASH) meeting held in Verón-Punta Cana, the group coordinated measures to address illegal dumpsites and makeshift landfills, strengthen community participation, and promote preventive actions in tourist establishments.
The Ministry urges the public to keep water containers covered and clean, turn over any receptacles that can collect water, and eliminate any unused objects that could serve as breeding grounds for the mosquito that transmits dengue fever. It also recommends avoiding self-medication and seeking medical attention at a health center if fever develops.
It also warns that severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, drowsiness, and irritability are warning signs that require immediate medical attention.
The health organization highlights that the Dominican Republic has one of the highest regional incidences, with a national cumulative rate of 4.89 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which is up to 95 percent lower than the Americas average
In the Americas, the cumulative total reaches 1.7 million suspected cases, with significantly higher regional incidence in South American and Caribbean nations, according to the most recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
