New Diary, Santo Domingo. – The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) reported Thursday night an imported case of malaria in a 52-year-old male, US citizen, originally from Haiti.
The health agency said it received a notification on Wednesday from the Epidemiology Department of the La Romana Provincial Health Bureau that the patient had been sent to a health center in the province since Tuesday and was diagnosed with pneumonia and D/C cerebrovascular disease. ACCIDENT.
According to the authorities, the patient is currently in critical condition and has therefore been transferred to a medical center in Santo Domingo, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit, where he received adequate treatment.
The health authorities explained that, based on the medical history, the patient was transferred by ambulance to La Romana (11:28 am on 1 August) from a cruise ship that had arrived at the port. On August 1, he was evaluated in the province and was conscious and oriented, with a history of fever, dyspnea, and convulsions on board.
On the evening of the admission, the health center notified the La Romana Department of Health that the case was suspected of malaria, and tests were performed, which came back positive, the agency said in an information note.
A relative said that the patient had been to Benin, West Africa, from June 24 to July 18. After returning to the United States, he boarded a cruise ship on July 27 and initially developed fever symptoms.
According to the epidemiological report, as of now, there have been no suspected cases.
The U.S. Embassy and the company operating the ship have been informed of the case, as required by the International Health Regulations.