Over the last week there have been more cases of Cholera reported in the Dominican Republic. Heavy rains caused a sewage pipe to break affecting a several communities in Moca near Santiago.

Unfortunately even in the industrialized nations like the United States it is not uncommon to see people head straight out of the public bathrooms without washing their hands. That means if they have some infectious disease (like Cholera in the DR) this will be spread from everything they touch (shopping carts, door handles etc.)

While this isn’t new news, it does reinforce the need to clean your hands frequently while visiting public locations during your travels here in the DR. It is not a bad idea to keep hand sanitize with you so you can easily disinfect your hands before eating and other activities.

Other tips to remember while traveling here.

• Always drink Bottled water
• Avoid using ice if you are not sure how they make the ice in the restaurant you are eating at.
• Thoroughly cooked foods are far safer than salads and other raw foods, even in resorts this can be a problem
• Resist the urge to touch your face, especially near your mouth when you are out and about, in particular when shopping.
• Clean your hands frequently
• Try not to touch door handles when leaving public bathrooms (use a hand towel or tissue).

In general, just be a little more careful with cleanliness. This is always a good idea but even more important while in a developing country where some of the more problematic infectious diseases might be present.

Don’t panic if you get some mild diarrhea, just head to a pharmacy for something to kill whatever you have. Heavy or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting requires attention. Find a private clinic or hospital so you can get tested. Public hospitals and clinics will usually require very long waits in rather poor conditions.