Dr. Jose Manuel Puello, the director of the National Center for Control of Tropical Diseases (CENCET), has turned to the media to help raise awareness of the recently introduced Chikungunya fever. Speaking on the program Chevere Nights on Channel 11, Dr. Puello explained that the Chikungunya fever is not transmitted person to person, but rather a mosquito needs to bite an infected person and then bite another person to transmit the disease.
He said that the virus is transmitted by the same mosquito and that the virus had an incubation period of between seven and 12 days. He reminded viewers that the initial symptoms are high fever, joint aches, fatigue and rash.
He called on the population not to self-medicate, but rather consult a physician immediately. Dr. Puello emphasized the importance of preventing the spread of the virus by eliminating standing water around the home using chlorine to disinfect water.
The presence of the virus in the Dominican Republic has been confirmed by the United States Disease Control Center (CDC) and although it is not yet known exactly how many people have been affected, the number of suspected cases are increasing, especially in Haina and Nigua. Cases have also been reported in San Pedro de Macoris.