The number of chikungunya cases in the Dominican Republic now stands at 429,000 as of 15 August 2014, making it by far the country with the highest number of people infected in the Western Hemisphere. Six people have died from the mosquito-borne illness in the DR.
According to the latest Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) report, released on Friday 22 August 2014, approximately 585,000 cases have been reported in the Americas since the first cases appeared in December 2013.
Despite the large numbers in the Dominican Republic, Health Minister Freddy Hidalgo says that the incidence of the disease has been decreasing in all regions of the country in the last six weeks.
After reporting some 13,000 cases during the latest week, the epidemiological report states that the provinces with the highest incidence at week 32 are Puerto Plata with 1,733, La Vega with 1,370, while Santiago recorded 1,210, Espaillat 1,217, and the National District 1,315.
Hidalgo says he expects the downward trend to continue in coming weeks.
Read more: http://outbreaknewstoday.com/dominican-republic-chikungunya-case-count-at-429000-incidence-decreasing-health-officials-15261/