Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzman Marcelino, together with deputy minister Nelson Rodriguez and other leading health system officials declared yesterday, Wednesday 21 October 2015 that the number of cases of dengue fever has increased by 294% over the last five years. This information is contained in a report from the Ministry of Public Health epidemiological department. The report covers the epidemiological weeks numbers 37 to 40 and states that the number of deaths has risen to 97 so far this year, with a total of 8,438 cases recorded. The report also points out that dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also transmits malaria.
The report goes on to say that the latest fatalities were a nine-month-old girl from San Francisco de Macoris and a one-year-old boy from Santo Domingo East.
The report contradicts statements from Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Dr. Pedro Sing, who said that fatalities had surpassed 100 and that more than 9,500 cases had already been recorded in 2015. The report also says that the provinces with the greatest incidence of the disease are Santo Domingo, the National District, Espaillat (Moca), La Vega, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), San Cristobal, Sanchez Ramirez (Cotui), Santiago and Monte Plata.
The deaths are being blamed on delays in patients receiving treatment and deficiencies in medical care.