Travelers to Haiti and Dominican Republic continue to exercise caution
The Collective Preventive Services (CPS) which is part of the Ministry of Public Health, continues surveillance for Cholera, and also maintains its travel advisory for persons traveling to Hispanola (Haiti, Dominican Republic).
Travelers to the Dominican Republic are strongly advised to follow basic hygienic habits while in one of the aforementioned countries.
According to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), while there has been a downward trend in the nationwide number of cases and deaths in Haiti since October 2012, the first week of January 2013 is comparatively showing higher numbers of cases and deaths than what was registered for the same period in 2012.
The Dominican Republic reported in the first week of January 2013, a cholera outbreak of 37 cases and two deaths registered in the prison of La Altagracia. The outbreak has been linked to contaminated drinking water and overcrowding of the prison population.
CPS was informed about the imported cholera case last year on the North side of the island by French health authorities, and linkages with persons on the Dutch side were ruled out, however, travelers are requested to be on alert upon their return home from Hispanola.
As part of the Minister’s ‘Get Checked,’ campaign, travelers who return to the island and display symptoms of cholera are strongly advised to get checked by visiting their family physician.
In Haiti, since the beginning of the epidemic (October 2010) to January 7, 2013, the total number of cholera cases reached 638,511, of which 352,532 were hospitalized and 7,943 died.
In the Dominican Republic, since the beginning of the epidemic (November 2010) through the first week of January 2013, the total number of suspected cholera cases reported was 29,490 of whom 426 died.
CPS continues to maintain PAHO recommendations which were reiterated recently to maintain in place surveillance activities to detect the occurrence of outbreaks and implementing intervention actions to reduce cholera spread determinants.
Cholera is a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration and death within hours.
Cholera is transmitted through fecal contamination of water and food. In places where there is infrastructure damage, the lack of safe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene can increase the risk of cholera, as well as numerous other diarrhea diseases.
While in the Dominican Republic ensure that you take vital precautions such as hygienic food preparation, boiling or purifying all water, and washing hands often with soap and clean water.
Symptoms can occur within 24 to 48 hours of being infected with the cholera causing bacteria. Cholera symptoms are generally mild; they include diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. About one infected person out of 20 has severe signs and symptoms, such as increased heart rate, dehydration, and shock. Immediately consult your physician if you have travelled and have any of the symptoms, while maintaining proper hygiene.
To minimize the number of people infected, frequent hand washing, personal hygiene, safe water use and food preparation are a necessity. Maintain these basic hygienic habits as you travel.
By taking a few basic precautions, cholera as well as most other food and water-borne diseases can easily be prevented. The main rule is, always be aware of the quality of what you eat and drink. Enjoy and keep safe as you travel and help us keep Sint Maarten Cholera Free!