The spreading of Haitian cholera outbreak to the neighboring Dominican Republic, a popular tourist destination among Russians, is only a matter of time, Russia's chief sanitary official said.
"Taking into consideration that border markets are thriving on the frontier between the two states, and that many thousands of Haitians work in the Dominican Republic, I think that the spreading of the disease is imminent," Gennady Onishchenko told RIA Novosti.
The Dominican Republic's health authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the first case of cholera was registered on the country's territory.
"I think that thorough preparations to detect those infected may prevent the country from losing control over the outbreak," the Russian official said.
At least 1,034 people have died and over 14,500 have been hospitalized in Haiti since the disease broke out more than three weeks ago, the ministry said.
Haiti is still struggling to cope with the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake that killed over 250,000 people. The situation was made worse by Hurricane Tomas, which brought torrential rains to the island and claimed 20 lives.
More than $160 million in aid is needed over the next year to stop the outbreak, the United Nations said.
MOSCOW, November 17 (RIA Novosti)
