Health issues i.e. Haiti

[deandebean]

With all the drama unfolding in Haiti, I was wondering if any of you are well versed in health concerns regarding visitors to the DR (read here all the diseases that could flourish under such desastrous conditions).

[NALs]

Haiti's problems are Haiti's problems. The world don't care and neither do we (DR) about Haiti or its problems.

However, there is a flow of illegal haitians into the DR (and other islands in the Caribbean). Let's just say that Haitians are not the most desired immigrants either in the DR or any other Caribbean country or even in the USA. As such, there is a lot of prejudice against them, but all that the Haitian government does is point at the abuses and they do nothing in attempting to help with the economic problems of Haiti, which is the culprit of the Haitian diaspora in the region.

All of that aside, you should not worry about health problems. Just don't drink tap water in the DR or anywhere tropical because tap water in tropical places (including south Florida) have high levels of bacteria, encourage to grow there because of the high temperatures.

There are going to be some gigantic outbreaks of disease in Haiti. Again, you should not really worry about it for the following reasons:

1. You would most likely not encounter a Haitian. Usually they are in the sugar cane fields cutting the sugar or they are begging in the streets or they are chopping down the forest illegally to take back to Haiti and make charcoal. Their country is now nicknamed "the eroding nation" because of the lack of trees which were mostly cut down by the Haitians. Now, they are coming to the DR and trying to do the same since we got a heck lot more beautiful tropical forest then they have. BTW, they are also responsible for illegal choppings of trees in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, Cuba,and even Jamaica has a slight problem with illegal Haitians cutting down timber.

2. There are many Haitian health problems that for some reason don't affect too much the DR. Don't ask me why, just be glad that is the case! An example would be Malaria, its beyond epidemic in Haiti, I think one can consider that to be a part of life in Haiti. Getting Malaria there is like getting a simple cold in the US, just widespread. For some bizzare reason, Malaria incidents in the DR are extremely low and mostly restricted to the border region. Most resorts are quite a treck away from the border, so no need to worry about Malaria or anything else from Haiti while in the DR.

3. The DR and Haiti are world away in terms of development. Take this in consideration. Hurricane Jeanne (and every other hurricane that has hit this island prior to it) hit the DR much harder and worst than they hit Haiti. The DR takes floods, strong winds, the full mambo jambo of Hurricanes. You'd expect the DR to suffer more and yet, Haiti is the one who suffers the most. They get some rain and bam, a gigantic flood forms out of nothing (because they chopped down the trees which used to hold the dirt in place) and they get inundated with mud, water, and disease. So, there plus or minus 10 death in the DR from Hurricane Jeanne, and Haiti stands at near 2,000.

You don't have much to worry about, unless you are planning to go into Haitian territory. If so, may God be with you because you will need it when dodging the bullets from militia men, crossing over flooded rivers, and running away from beggars who expect you to give each and every single one of them a dollar!

[Pib]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

Haiti's problems are Haiti's problems. The world don't care and neither do we (DR) about Haiti or its problems.

Speak for yourself!

[NALs]

Originally Posted by Pib

Speak for yourself!

Ok, so maybe Dominicans care a little bit, but we will not fix it for them.

There, do I speak for most now?

[Mirador]

For some bizzare reason, Malaria incidents in the DR are extremely low

not quite that bizzare, did your know that blood alcohol level is inversely proportional to parasitic infestations in your system? A few shots or brugal (or your favorite brand) rum a day is enough to keep the malaria plasmodium away, and amoebas et al.

Mirador

[NALs]

Mirador, I did not knew that. If so, that clearly explains why then!

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by deandebean

With all the drama unfolding in Haiti, I was wondering if any of you are well versed in health concerns regarding visitors to the DR (read here all the diseases that could flourish under such desastrous conditions).

Actually, deandebean, it is a bit nearer home than Haiti. El Caribe online was reporting 2 days ago that there is a plan to vaccinate all those in the Dominican Republic who were evacuated to shelters. The vaccinations would be against respiratory diseases, conjunctivitis & gastrointestinal diseases. I understand that if the Secretary of Public Health made resouces available, this plan would be extended province wide & even region wide in the affected areas. In my opinion, vaccinations against gastrointestinal diseases are particularly important for those who were unable to obtain clean drinking water for a few days subsequent to Hurricane Jeanne hitting these shores. The same article also said that fumigation would be included in the plan.

Please note, these are concerns for residents, not tourists. In your hotel you will have clean drinking water, air conditioning etc. I would always advise anti malarial prophylaxis, even though they taste foul! Take with food & start course 4 weeks before you arrive & continue 2 weeks after you return home. And of course, use plenty of Deet. You will get bitten by mosquitos, but most are not malarial. Bit difficult to tell the difference between the two, though.

And yes, having been through a cholera epidemic in Libya about 40 years ago, while no expert & certainly not a doctor, I do feel well versed enough to know what to do for myself. It may interest you to note that while I could not locate any cholera vaccine in the farmacias in Puerto Plata last week, I was able to locate an abundance of treatments for AFTER you get it! Not surprising that the vaccine was not available, since supposedly cholera was erradicated world wide years ago.

Just to reiterate, there are NO epidemics here at present. There have been 3 reported cases of malaria in Santiago. The only reason I went looking is that I personally like to be well prepared. And if you know anything about medicine, & I suspect you do from the way your question is phrased, you will of course realise that a land border between 2 countries is not a preventative measure!
So for those that say diseases are a Haitian problem......think again.

[BushBaby]

I too was surprised to see the comments of Na0lws re haitians & the bringing in of viruses!! For one who is normally so well versed in matter Dominican, he seems to have made a couple of errors in his reporting this time!!

Hatians ARE getting into the DR & hey are NOT staying near the borders!! Who can blame them as there is absolutely nothing there for them. No food, no drinkable water, no shelter ..... nothing! Under those ci=onditions, what have they to loose by risking coming deep into the Dominican Republic illegally? FConsidering the number of bodies (human AND animal) that are decomposing in the floods in Haiti, it would be surprising if the incoming Haitians have NOT contracted some diseases which could be contagious & start epidemics here too!!

The number of deaths caused directly by hurricane Jeanne is almost 3 times that quoted by Na0lws as I recall - did I not see somewhere the figure of 29 deaths?? Certainly I can recall seeing in excess of twenty!

There were small outbreaks of Malaria in Santo Domingo last year as I recall, there were a few around Santiago earlier this year & there IS a small outbreak at the moment in Santiago according to medical specialists!! I accept TOTALLY that these outbreaks are small (according to the reports, but these figures CAN be doctored - excuse the pun) & they are quickly addressed to irradicate the disease, BUT ....... outbreaks DO happen here & should not be dismissed as unimportant!!

Might I suggest that people keep themselves aware of what is happening in this context for at least the next three months & visit a doctor if ANY unusual symptoms start to be encountered!! FAR better to be safe, than sorry!! ~ Grahame.

[CyaBye3015]

Originally Posted by Pib

Speak for yourself!

Thank you Pib, you took the words right out of my mouth, who the "H" does Nal0whs think he/she is to speak for everyone in the DR!!!

Joe

[Jwb]

Originally Posted by CyaBye3015

Thank you Pib, you took the words right out of my mouth, who the "H" does Nal0whs think he/she is to speak for everyone in the DR!!!

Joe

Good call PIB and Cyabe3015 . Some people are so wrapped up in their own silly world they are unable to think clearly.