With the United States Senate approving nearly US$2 billion for Zika prevention in the southern US, it is worth recalling that this virus is still major news in the Dominican Republic. According to the Ministry of Public Health’s latest epidemiology report, 317 suspected cases of the Zika virus were reported, which brings the total to 2,443 suspected cases Zika since the presence of the virus was officially recognized, including 243 pregnant women.
The Epidemiology Bulletin specifies that the highest percentage of people affected was reported in the National District and in the provinces of Santo Domingo, Azua and Independencia.
The Bulletin also reports some 100 cases of Guillian Barre Syndrome, which is associated with infection by the Zika virus. Of these 42 live in Santo Domingo 25 in the National District, 10 in Barahona and seven in Azua. So far the authorities have recorded some six deaths from GBS.
During the same period there were 103 suspected cases of dengue, an increase of 517 over the last three weeks.
