Public Health achieves zero dengue deaths in DR and reduces cases by 85% in 2025

Health Minister relaunches national campaign “Let’s Beat Dengue” to maintain and further reduce the number of possible infections.
 
Santo Domingo.– The Minister of Health, Víctor Atallah, reported that the Dominican Republic has registered a reduction of more than 85% in dengue cases nationwide, as a result of the impact of preventive and educational actions deployed throughout the country.
 
During the national relaunching of the campaign “Let’s Beat Dengue”, under the slogan “Eliminate, clean and cover”, the head of Health, highlighted that the prevention efforts have allowed the country to be classified as a benchmark in the control of the disease.
 
Likewise, he affirmed that the achievements in the fight against dengue are the result of coordinated work with the Provincial Health Directorates and Health Areas (DPS/DAS), as well as the active participation of the communities. He specified that the campaign will have a renewed focus on education and the control of mosquito breeding sites.
 
“We have shown that prevention works, the country today shows encouraging figures that reflect the dedication of our staff and the commitment to protect the health of the Dominican people. Now we are going to redouble our efforts to sustain and expand this success, let’s keep winning the battle against dengue”, Atallah stated.

You can also read: Learn to identify dengue and when to go to the emergency room
 
The campaign launch was carried out simultaneously in all DPS/DAS. 
 
According to data from the Epidemiology Directorate, between epidemiological weeks 1 and 32 of this year, 171 confirmed cases have been reported, compared to the 1,110 cases registered in the same period of 2024, which reflects a reduction of more than 85%.
 
The behavior of dengue in the last four weeks has also shown a downward trend, with EW 32 having the lowest number of cases, with only one confirmed report.

Juan Manuel Méndez García, executive director of the Emergency Operations Center (COE), specified that the campaign has a positive impact, highlighting that prevention is placed as a fundamental axis in the pursuit of protecting the population. He also stated that the COE joins these actions, reinforcing its commitment to work together to ensure the well-being of citizens.

 
In pronouncing a few words during the opening ceremony of the day, the Vice Minister of Technical and Pedagogical Affairs of the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (MINERD), Ancell Shecker, highlighted that health and education are national causes and that it is everyone’s commitment to work on the prevention of diseases, which is why today the educational portfolio joins the campaign “Let’s Beat Dengue”.

Dominican Republic was recognized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for its management against dengue, especially in 2024, qualifying the country as a regional leader in the control of the disease, at a time when cases were increasing in other nations. As part of the campaign, educational sessions, community operations to eliminate breeding grounds, targeted fumigations, descacharrización (removal of discarded items), distribution of informative materials and delivery of abate (larvicide) will continue to be developed, in addition to guidance to the population, with the aim of keeping the disease under control. Among the complementary initiatives is the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Dengue, developed with the support of PAHO, which has prioritized social interventions. Also the “Anti-Dengue Family” strategy, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Education and PAHO, which trains students and teachers to multiply preventive efforts in their communities. From the Ministry of Health it was reiterated that the key to overcoming dengue lies in the joint action between the authorities and the population, urging to continue applying preventive measures in homes and communities.