Haiti Investigates 13 Suspected Anthrax Cases in Grand'Anse; Dominican Republic Boosts Surveillance
Health authorities probe cutaneous anthrax cases in Baliverne, Dame-Marie, where two deaths have been reported but not confirmed as linked to the disease.
Haitian health authorities are investigating 13 suspected cases of cutaneous anthrax (carbunco) in Baliverne, a community in the commune of Dame-Marie in the Grand'Anse department in southwestern Haiti, according to hoy.com.do and almomento.net (EFE). Two deaths have been reported among the suspected cases, though officials say it has not been confirmed that anthrax caused the fatalities. Contact with sick livestock is being investigated as a possible source of exposure. In response, the Dominican Republic said on Friday, Sept. 11, that it had preventively reinforced its epidemiological and animal-health surveillance mechanisms, though no anthrax cases have been recorded in Dominican territory. Public Health Minister Víctor Atallah stressed the measures are preventive and do not reflect a health emergency. "La República Dominicana no registra casos de ántrax ni existe una situación de emergencia sanitaria," Atallah said in a statement, adding that health services are prepared to identify any suspected cases. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which occurs naturally in soil and mainly affects herbivorous animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. Humans typically contract it through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, according to the CDC. The disease is not usually transmitted person to person, so the risk from contact with an affected individual is low. Dominican authorities said they will continue monitoring in coordination with PAHO/WHO.