Leptospirosis Cases Triple in Dominican Republic, Deaths Rise to 16 in 2026

Leptospirosis cases in the Dominican Republic have tripled compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 207 confirmed cases and 16 deaths as of early July 2026 Source: eldiado, elcaribedr, diariolibree. The incidence rate jumped from 1.14 to 3.75 per 100,000 inhabitants Source: elcaribedr.

Geographic Concentration

Nearly half of all cases are concentrated in three provinces: Puerto Plata (60 cases), Santo Domingo (24), and Espaillat (13). Santiago also reported 12 cases Source: eldiado, elcaribedr. The remainder of the country shows low or zero notifications, indicating localized transmission Source: elcaribedr.

Causes and Recent Case

The spike correlates with the rainy season and flooding, which facilitate contact with contaminated water Source: elcaribedr. During week 26 (June 28–July 4), a 17-year-old male in Santo Domingo was confirmed with leptospirosis, presenting fever and jaundice Source: eldiado, diariolibree. Notably, 93.7% of cases (194) had an unidentified Leptospira species Source: eldiado, elcaribedr. Identified serovars include Canicola, Bratislava, Hardjo, Copenhageni, Grippotyphosa, and Pomona Source: eldiado.

Response and Outlook

The Ministry of Public Health maintains that the disease is at an alert level and continues surveillance and community interventions Source: elcaribedr. The report also noted 171 dengue cases and 104 malaria cases, though these remain within expected parameters Source: diariolibree. Authorities urge avoiding contact with contaminated water and seeking early medical care Source: eldiado.