After Cholera Outbreaks in Haiti and Cuba, Dominica Prepares “Just in Case”

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Following high-profile cholera outbreaks in Haiti and Cuba in the last two years, Dominica says its Ministry of Health is being “proactive” in defending the country against a potential outbreak.

There are no indications of the disease on the island, however.

“We are prepared as far as cholera is concerned,” said Health Minister Julius Timothy. “The major thing is the IV fluids and we already have a 40-foot container filled with those fluids and doctors have been trained to identify and treat cholera.”

Timothy said there was doubt as to whether cholera would pose a serious threat if confirmed, because it lives largely in stagnant water.

“Fortunately for us in Dominica, we don’t have stagnant water — our water is running swiftly to the seas,” he said. “So even if the disease does arrive here, we do not think it will be in any significant way — but we are prepared just in case.”