CDC advises travelers to the Dominican Republic
Due to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the Dominican Republic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising travelers to the island nation on how to protect themselves from getting sick, according to a CDC Outbreak Notice Jan. 16.
The outbreak has been ongoing since November 2010, and according to the Dominican Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud Publica y Asistencia Social [MSP]), as of December 16, 2012, 7,766 suspected cholera cases and 62 suspected cholera-related deaths have been reported for 2012.
Travelers to the area are not at high risk of contracting cholera; however, the CDC says travelers need to exercise caution.
Although no cholera vaccine is available in the United States, travelers can prevent cholera by following these 5 basic steps:
- Drink and use safe water,
- Wash your hands often with soap and safe water,
- Use toilets, do not defecate in any body of water,
- Cook food well (especially seafood), keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables and,
- Clean up safely—in the kitchen and in places where the family bathes and washes clothes
In addition, health officials recommend before departing for the Dominican Republic, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for an antibiotic. If you get sick with diarrhea while you are in the Dominican Republic, you can take the antibiotic, as prescribed. Also, remember to drink fluids and use oral rehydration salts (ORS) to prevent dehydration.
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[…] CDC advises travelers to the Dominican RepublicThe Global DispatchDue to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the Dominican Republic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising travelers to the island nation on how to protect themselves from getting sick, according to a CDC Outbreak Notice Jan. 16. […]
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