10 August 2007

Outbreak of gastroenteritis in the Dominican Republic

An outbreak of gastroenteritis is occurring in the Dominican Republic at the Bahía Principe Hotel, Río San Juan, province of Espaillat. The first cases were reported to UK tour companies at the resort on the 3 August 2007 and at least 450 cases have occurred to date. The illness consists mainly of vomiting and diarrhoea with a duration of around 24 hours. No organism has as yet been identified but the epidemiology of the disease seems consistent with a viral aetiology. Investigations and control measures are ongoing by the authorities in the Dominican Republic who are working closely with the Pan American Health Organization. 

On 9 August the Health Protection Agency were informed of two flights returning from the Dominican Republic with a total of around 70 people unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting during the flights.

Information for travellers

Clinicians seeing travellers with gastrointestinal illness returning from the Dominican Republic should request microbiological investigations (including virology) on stool specimens.

Travellers to resource poor countries should practice food and water precautions and careful personal hygiene. 

Links

1. NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on Travellers Diarrhoea. Available at: http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/travellersdiarrhoea.ht

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2. Pan American Health Organisation. Available at: http://www.paho.org/