Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – November 13, 2024 – The Dominican Republic’s Infectology society has issued a formal alert to national health authorities regarding the escalating risk of measles importation, prompted by a notable outbreak in neighboring Canada. The advisory comes as Canadian health officials confirmed over 5,100 measles cases as an outbreak began in October 2024.
The alert underscores the vulnerability of the Dominican population, especially children, to a resurgence of this highly contagious disease. While the Dominican Republic had previously achieved measles elimination status, ongoing transmission in Canada – currently active in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan – presents a clear and present danger.The most affected age group in the Canadian outbreak is individuals aged 25 to 39 years, followed by those between 1 and 4 years of age, highlighting potential susceptibility across demographics.
The Canadian outbreak, originating in New Brunswick, has prompted concerns about cross-border transmission. The Infectology Society’s communication urges heightened surveillance,vaccination efforts,and public awareness campaigns to safeguard the Dominican Republic’s public health. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of ensuring high vaccination coverage rates, particularly among vulnerable populations, to prevent the re-establishment of measles within the country.
