Public Health authorities have announced stricter anti-epidemic measures at all international airports and sea ports. They are trying to prevent entry of the bacteria that causes anthrax, a disease recently discovered in the US and which has already killed a Florida man.
From now on, passengers who arrive in the DR from US territory will have to go through special checks along with their luggage. Listin Diario reports that in Las Americas airport they have considered fumigating the luggage after it is unloaded from the plane and before it goes to the baggage pick up area inside the airport.
A public health inspector says animal products are being confiscated at airport customs. He said Dominicans often bring meat products home from the US and those items will be seized and incinerated. The anthrax bacteria mainly infect cattle. (11 October 2001)
