DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Health authorities are sounding the alarm as a significant rise in respiratory viruses over the last few weeks threatens to worsen with the arrival of the holiday season and thousands of travelers. The Dominican Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery warned on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 that the influx of citizens living abroad creates a dual impact, noting that while returning residents bring gifts and economic support. The travelers may also introduce new viral strains into the local population.

Media reports confirm people are falling ill in large numbers in New York, the second largest Dominican city around the world, too. As of mid-December 2025, health officials have officially declared the flu “prevalent” across New York State. Lab-confirmed flu cases have seen a dramatic spike recently, with reports showing increases as high as 119% in New York City over a single...