Government Tightens Border Again to Avoid the Spread of Cholera

Government Tightens Border Again to Avoid the Spread of Cholera
Santo Domingo, 11/18/2010

Following a meeting last Wednesday with members of the National Cholera Commission, Dominican President Leonel Fernández decided to tighten measures to prevent the spread of cholera. He also increased the levels of public information around the country.

“It has been decided to strengthen all sanitary controls and regulations along the border,” according to the Presidential Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

This information was released by Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gómez at a press conference following the meeting with the President in one of the private offices in that National Palace where he confirmed that the Dominican Republic is prepared to deal with any situation that may arise.

“It has been decided to strengthen all sanitary controls and regulations along the border,” according to the Presidential Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

In terms of water, the Minister said there will be wide-reaching national control including a water chlorination plan. He warned that there will continue to be restrictions on the bi-national border market in addition to a restriction on all transport from Haiti to the Dominican Republic.

The Minister said that a chlorinated cork passageway will be installed for vehicles and people to pass through in an attempt to absorb any contamination that may be carried by those entering the DR by land and border bridges.

He said another preventative measures prohibits the use or hiring of Haitian workers for a time. Employers of Haitian workers already in the country must notify authorities in the event the worker moves to a different location in the DR.

FIRST CASE OF CHOLERA

Bautista confirmed that the first reported case of cholera in the DR, Haitian Wilmo Louwe, was out of danger. Louwe is reportedly in perfect condition and is under strict medical observation.

“That is to say, Louwe is receiving adequate treatment and is in stable, improving condition,” affirmed Rojas Gómez.