The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MISPAS) of the Dominican Republic recorded an alarming cumulative increase in cases of whooping cough and leptospirosis during 2026.
According to the epidemiological surveillance bulletin for week 38, whooping cough experienced a 680% increase in incidence compared to the same period in 2025, while confirmed diagnoses of leptospirosis grew by 91%, accompanied by a rise in deaths associated with this zoonosis.
Records from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) reveal that whooping cough went from a single case in the 2025 cumulative comparison to eight confirmed cases in 2026.
Although the absolute figure seems small, the percentage jump represented the most drastic relative variation among the pathologies under priority monitoring in the Dominican territory. Health authorities maintain continuous monitoring of this bacterial disease given the risk it poses to children's health, especially in infants without a complete vaccination schedule.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection caused by the microorganism Bordetella pertussis.
This bacterium attaches to the cilia of the upper respiratory tract and releases toxins that cause inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. Transmission occurs through droplets…
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A person walks in rubber boots over stagnant water in a residential neighborhood after intense rains, in a context of flood alerts and zoonosis risk. (Illustrative image Infobae)
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MISPAS) of the Dominican Republic recorded an alarming cumulative increase in cases of whooping cough and leptospirosis during 2026. According to the epidemiological surveillance bulletin corresponding to week 38, whooping cough experienced a 680% increase in its incidence compared to the same period in 2025, while confirmed diagnoses of leptospirosis grew by 91%, accompanied by a rise in deaths associated with this zoonosis. Records from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) reveal that whooping cough went from a single case in the 2025 cumulative comparison to eight confirmed cases in 2026. Although the absolute figure seems small, the percentage jump represented the most drastic relative variation among the pathologies under priority monitoring in the Dominican territory. Health authorities maintain continuous monitoring of this bacterial disease given the risk it poses to children's health, especially in infants without a complete vaccination schedule. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection of bacterial origin caused by the microorganism Bordetella pertussis. This bacterium attaches to the cilia of the upper respiratory tract and releases toxins that cause inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. Transmission occurs through droplets of saliva expelled when speaking, coughing, or sneezing. Its initial symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including: Runny nose, Mild fever, Occasional cough. A nurse administers a dose of pentavalent vaccine in the leg of a baby held by his mother in a pediatric office. (Illustrative image Infobae)
However, after one or two weeks, coughing fits become uncontrollable and violent, characterized by a high-pitched whistle when inhaling air. In babies and young children, the condition causes serious complications such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, or asphyxiation. Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance focuses its efforts on completing pentavalent vaccination schedules in the child population to contain the spread of the whooping cough bacteria.
As for leptospirosis, the official epidemiological report showed that confirmed cases rose to 279 infections in 2026, a figure higher than the 142 cases recorded in the same period of 2025. The impact of this outbreak was also reflected in mortality figures. The report counted 20 cumulative deaths from this pathology, exceeding the 13 deaths reported in the previous period. Although no new confirmed diagnoses were recorded in epidemiological week 38, the overall trend for the year maintains alert levels in various provinces of the country.
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease produced by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which affects both humans and domestic and wild animals. Rodents, particularly rats, act as the main reservoirs of the bacteria and continuously expel it through their urine.
Weekly evolution of confirmed leptospirosis cases in the Dominican Republic between epidemiological week 1 of 2025 and week 38 of 2026 (Courtesy: Ministry of Health of the Dominican Republic).
Infection in people occurs through direct or indirect contact with contaminated water or soil, usually through small skin lesions or through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth. The risk of transmission increases in vulnerable urban and rural areas after intense rains and floods, phenomena that facilitate the dispersal of the pathogen. Symptoms include high fever, intense muscle aches, headache, jaundice and, in severe cases, kidney or liver failure. Therefore, authorities recommend that citizens avoid contact with stagnant water, maintain strict rodent control in homes, and go immediately to a health center in the event of sudden fever or acute respiratory symptoms.