Increase of malaria in the Dominican Republic

In November 1999 nine European cases of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum reportedly were imported by tourists from the Dominican Republic. The incidence of malaria has increased since the hurricane George and since building activities for tourist centres have favoured growth of the mosquito population. Travellers to the Dominican Republic are advised to take precautions against mosquitoes and to take proguanil prophylaxis also malaria should be considered in patients with fever who have visited the area, if only as tourists.     

Falciparum malaria in European tourists to the Dominican Republic

Thirteen cases of falciparum malaria acquired by Europeans in the Dominican Republic occurred from June 1999 to February 2000. The cases were identified by the European Network on Imported Infectious Disease Surveillance (TropNetEurop).     

Assessment of schistosomiasis in the Dominican Republic

Active transmission of intestinal schistosomiasis is currently limited to the southeastern part of the Dominican Republic. A population-based stool survey in 1980 detected 4 asymptomatic individuals among 114 selected at random in 2 towns and a rural community in El Seibo Province. The distribution of the transmitting snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, considerably exceeds that of Schistosoma mansoni, extending to the National District and capital city of Santo Domingo and well into certain central valley provinces. There is evidence that transmission sites have shifted during the past three decades because of urban development, molluscicidal activities and, perhaps, introduction of competing mollusks. In spite of intermittent control activities, the combination of domestic and recreational use of streams with consequent fecal contamination, and the extended distribution of B. glabrata indicates that the potential for new transmission foci is as great today as it was 10 years ago. This potential transmission of S. mansoni is a continuing threat to public health in the Dominican Republic.     

Polyuria in association with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a region of unstable transmission

During a recent epidemic of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Hlabisa district, KwaZulu Natal, polyuria was recognized in a subset of adults presenting to hospital with severe disease. In January to May 2000, following consent, cases of severe malaria provided blood spots for HIV testing, clinical data, and blood and urine samples for investigation of the polyuria. Four hundred and eleven adults with malaria were admitted, of whom 175 had severe malaria and 37 had polyuria (21% of severe cases). In those with polyuria the mean 24-h urine output was 3018 ml or 2.85 ml/kg/h. Ten of 15 (66%) patients investigated had urine and plasma osmolalities consistent with diabetes insipidus. There was no significant association between polyuria and sex, age, HIV status or features of severe malaria. Whether the polyuria in these non-immune adults is a localized problem unrelated to malaria, or a hitherto unrecognized complication of severe malaria is not clear. Physicians are alerted to this observation, and the need for more clinical and pathophysiological studies.     

Toward a Rural Health Corps Concept: Lessons from the Dominican Republic*

ABSTRACT: In recent years, primary health care services have expanded rapidly in rural Latin America. However, these services are characterized in many countries of the region by inefficiency and low quality. Research on rural health services in the Dominican Republic identifies the compulsory year of rural service required of graduating medical students (known as pasantia in some countries and medicatura rural in others) as one of the main causes for these problems. Conflicting roles assigned to rural health promoters by the ministry of health and by rural residents are another contributing factor. The manner in which these characteristics of the rural health system reduce the productivity of health resources and the quality of care is discussed. The authors suggest that the organization of a rural health corps could resolve the main flaws inherent in the use of the pasantia and strengthen the work of the promoters.     

Multinational cholera outbreak after wedding in the Dominican Republic

We conducted a case–control study of a cholera outbreak after a wedding in the Dominican Republic, January 22, 2011. Ill persons were more likely to report having consumed shrimp on ice (odds ratio 8.50) and ice cubes in beverages (odds ratio 3.62). Travelers to cholera affected areas should avoid consuming uncooked seafood and untreated water.     

Political analysis of health reform in the Dominican Republic.

This article examines the major political challenges associated with the adoption of health reform proposals, through the experience of one country, the Dominican Republic. The article briefly presents the problems of the health sector in the Dominican Republic, and the health reform efforts that were initiated in 1995. The PolicyMaker method of applied political analysis is described, and the results of its application in the Dominican Republic are presented, including analysis of the policy content of the health reform, and assessment of five key groups of players (public sector, private sector, unions, political parties, and other non-governmental organizations). The PolicyMaker exercise was conducted in collaboration with the national Office of Technical Coordination (OCT) for health reform, and produced a set of 11 political strategies to promote the health reform effort in the Dominican Republic. These strategies were partially implemented by the OCT, but were insufficient to overcome political obstacles to the reform by late 1997. The conclusion presents six factors that affect the pace and political feasibility of health reform proposals, with examples from the case of the Dominican Republic.