The Dominican Republic is facing an outbreak of chickenpox and over the last week more than 880 cases were reported. The Epidemiologic Department at the Ministry of Public Health registered during the four weeks 3,316 cases that represent an increase of 14% over the same period last year. Chicken pox is a virus that regularly attacks people during the summer, although tropical climate favors its appearance during any time of the year.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Health recommend quarantining patients in their homes and not allowing contact with other persons who have not had the illness. Persons with chickenpox should not go to work or school or church until the outbreak, the tiny blisters have dried up, in around five days.
Chickenpox is caused by a virus that generally affects children and is not dangerous. It is not one of the illnesses on the recommended vaccination list followed by the Dominican public health sector and that is backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
Chickenpox is not on the Broad Program of Immunizations (PAI) list because it is not considered a health risk. Nevertheless, officials recommend avoiding that those infected scratch the outbreak and damage the skin because this can produce major infections. Affected persons should bath two or three times a day and keep hands clean and fingernails short.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
24 May 2018
