The Public Health Department of Aruba (DVG) has taken note of public information from the American Consulate located in Curaçao that is important for us to correct. The issued statement makes an “alert” call for the outbreak of dengue cases in the Caribbean, referring to different islands such as Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten (CAS), and also the islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba (BES).
As the Public Health Department of Aruba is responsible for monitoring infectious diseases and diseases transmitted by blood, we want to inform the Aruba community that the information mentioning Aruba as an island experiencing a dengue “outbreak” is incorrect. There is no dengue outbreak in Aruba at the moment.
It is important to note that Dengue is an endemic disease with sporadic cases throughout the year, and the DVG monitors the local/regional, and global situation and takes immediate action to prevent cases from escalating. It should be emphasized that since July 2023, the World Health Organization has informed all its members that Dengue could become a global problem, considering climate change. Consequently, together with other islands in the Dutch Caribbean, surveillance of blood-transmitted diseases has been strengthened.
Data from the Epidemiology and Investigation section shows that in the last month of 2023, the DVG received thirteen Dengue notifications, of which five were confirmed, six were negative, and two cases were recorded as probable. For the year 2024, there have been six Dengue notifications, with two positive, two negative, and two cases pending laboratory results. Compared to previous years, this is not different. The GKMB control indicators also reflect this, and there have been no Dengue-related hospital admissions up to now.
Through this statement, the Public Health Department wants to emphasize that Aruba does not have an “alert” for Dengue cases, and in any case of a disease that poses a threat to public health, the Public Health Department of Aruba (DVG) is the official institution to inform the community properly.
For more information, you can visit our Facebook page “Directie Volksgezondheid DVG Aruba,” follow DVG on Instagram at “directie_volksgezondheid_aruba,” visit the website www.dvg.aw, call 5224200, or email [email protected].
