Outbreak linked to tropical storm

Standing water from Tropical Storm Noel last month is contributing to an outbreak of the waterborne disease leptospirosis, killing 19 people and sickening more than 130, the Dominican health minister said.

Bautista Rojas Gomez said dozens of people remain in hospitals with symptoms related to leptospirosis, which spreads through exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals.

Health officials fear an increase in cases because rains continue to pound the country after Noel killed 87 people and displaced about 70,000 here in late October.