Surveillance has also been reinforced as a preventive measure in response to the epidemiological alert generated by the Nipah virus, a zoonotic pathogen recently identified in Asia that can cause illnesses ranging from mild infection to severe encephalitis, with a mortality rate that could range between 40% and 75%. International health authorities have highlighted the virus’s potential severity, noting that there is no specific treatment or vaccine, and that it is considered capable of triggering outbreaks with a significant public health impact if not detected and controlled promptly. Given its zoonotic nature, the virus can be transmitted from animals to humans and between people, prompting countries in various regions to increase surveillance measures at points of entry such as airports and seaports.
Under the protocols adopted at AILA, health personnel carry out systematic inspections and assessments of passengers and crews, especially those traveling from areas with high epidemiological risk or those who have transited through affected zones. The director of the airport’s medical clinic, Dr. Elizaida Mesa Matos, explained that these actions are conducted in close coordination with the different authorities involved and in accordance with international guidelines for disease prevention and control. The strengthening of these inspections has no recent precedent in the country and signals a high level of preparedness in the face of emerging threats that could affect public health.
Despite the implementation of these preventive measures, Dominican authorities have emphasized that, to date, no suspected case of Nipah infection has been detected within the national territory. This has been communicated to reassure both the local population and international visitors, stressing that the health control actions are strictly preventive in nature. Ongoing monitoring at AILA will continue rigorously, reaffirming the country’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring health security at its main air terminals, where tens of thousands of people converge each day.
The strengthening of these health controls also fits within a broader global trend in which countries have activated alerts and preventive protocols at airports and other points of entry as part of a coordinated effort to anticipate risks linked to emerging diseases. International health organizations have recommended that epidemiological surveillance systems remain active 24 hours a day, connected to robust response capacity to quickly identify any sign of transmissible illness, thereby reducing the likelihood of spread within the country.
The implementation of these measures in the Dominican Republic highlights the importance public health now holds in managing international population movements, especially in regions highly connected through tourism and business travel. The approach adopted by Dominican authorities—both in intensifying surveillance at AILA and in coordinating with international entities—reflects a clear commitment to maintaining high health security standards without significantly affecting mobility or tourism activity, which are fundamental pillars of the national economy.
Consequently, while the threat of emerging diseases such as influenza and the Nipah virus continues to drive preventive action worldwide, the Dominican Republic reaffirms its commitment to act with diligence and transparency to protect its population and visitors, keeping surveillance and response systems prepared for any potential health contingency.
