Cholera in the Dominican Republic
11 Jan 2023
The Dominican Republic has reported cases of cholera in recent weeks. On 28 December 2022, the Ministry of Public Health confirmed 2 cases in the La Zurza sector of the National District. Neither of these people had traveled outside the country.
As of 28 December 2022, a total of 10 confirmed cholera cases were reported in the Dominican Republic. Two of these have been imported from neighbouring Haiti, where there is a large cholera outbreak.
While case numbers are small at this time, authorities remain alert to the possibility of further transmission.
Cholera is an infection spread mainly through food and water that can cause sudden watery diarrhoea.
Advice for Travellers
Cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.
If you are travelling to a country where there is an outbreak of cholera, you should be aware how to:
- practice safe food and water precautions
- practice effective hand hygiene
- treat mild diarrhoea, and when to seek medical attention
A vaccine is available to protect against cholera. Since the risk to travellers is very low, the vaccine is only usually recommended for volunteers or humanitarian workers travelling to work in disaster relief situations.
See the fitfortravel Cholera page for further information.