Ships
GGD Bonaire conducts inspections at the port to ensure that infectious diseases do not enter the island via (cruise) ships. This is one of GGD Bonaire’s public health responsibilities.
All over the world, every ship must complete a health declaration before arrival. This declaration states whether there are any sick people on board. If there are people with a contagious disease, GGD Bonaire is notified. They then assess the situation and, if necessary, provide advice to the ship. Very rarely is a ship denied entry, but this almost never happens.
In February, there was an unusual situation in which a crew member of a cargo ship exhibited symptoms resembling measles upon arrival in Bonaire. Because GGD Bonaire was notified in a timely manner, they were able to take appropriate measures. GGD Bonaire also published a press release regarding this incident.
In the first quarter of 2026, GGD Bonaire received 83 (cruise) ship health certificates. On most (cruise) ships, there were very few sick people on board.
Flu
This spring, fewer people with cold-like symptoms visited their primary care physician than during the same period from 2021 to 2025. It is possible that fewer people had the flu this spring, or that people with the flu visited their primary care physician less often this year, resulting in a lower number this year.
Laboratory data show that in recent months, Influenza A and B (flu virus), rhinovirus, enterovirus, and RSV were the most common pathogens. RSV primarily affects young children.
It is not known whether anyone with the flu was hospitalized this spring.
Last year’s flu shot provided good protection against the influenza virus (the flu) that many people contracted. A total of 883 COVID-19 vaccinations were administered, and the GGD
Bonaire administered 760 flu shots. An additional 1,192 flu shots were administered at primary care practices.
It is unusual for there to be so few cases of the flu on Bonaire at this time of year. This is striking, given that it is the rainy season and there are vacation periods. During these periods, we typically see an annual increase in tourists from regions with a winter season, such as Europe and the United States. Since December, an early and more severe flu season has been reported worldwide, including in France, Australia, the U.S., Canada, Argentina, and Bolivia. In the European part of the Netherlands, the flu epidemic began in mid-February and ended in March. See also: Flu Facts and Figures | RIVM. On the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Saint Barths, many people with flu-like symptoms are visiting their family doctors. In Guadeloupe and French St. Maarten, the flu epidemic ended in late March (source: Santé Publique France).
Sexual Health Clinic Hours
Public Health Bonaire sexual health clinic began in October 2025. This clinic is open to anyone with questions about love, sex, relationships, contraception, or STIs (sexually transmitted infections). The clinic complements the existing healthcare services on Bonaire.
In the first quarter, the nurses saw 35 clients, 26 of whom were tested for STIs. Of the 26 clients tested, 12 had chlamydia and 1 had gonorrhea.
Mosquito-borne diseases
Dengue is still occasionally found on Bonaire. From January through March, few people with symptoms of a mosquito-borne disease, such as dengue, visited their primary care physician.
Public Health Bonaire asks everyone to be on the lookout for potential mosquito breeding sites around their homes. Mosquitoes on Bonaire can also transmit diseases other than dengue, such as chikungunya.
In February, Suriname’s Ministry of Public Health reported an outbreak of chikungunya in the country, which has already claimed two lives. Several babies were also infected during pregnancy. Neighboring countries Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil, as well as the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, have recently reported new outbreaks of the virus. Cuba has been experiencing an outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases for some time; in addition to chikungunya, the country is also dealing with many cases of dengue fever.
GGD Bonaire is closely monitoring the situation in the region. The last major outbreak on the six Dutch Caribbean islands occurred between 2014 and 2016. In Aruba, one case was reported in the fall of 2025 in a person who had been to Cuba. In early 2026, two cases of chikungunya were reported in people who had traveled to Suriname. In the European part of the Netherlands, there has also been an increase in the number of chikungunya cases involving a travel history to Suriname or Cuba. Chikungunya was reported on Bonaire and Curaçao in late March; on both islands, the cases involved one person each with a travel history to Suriname.
Do you have questions about mosquito-borne diseases? Then check out www.bonairegov.com/muggen.
All family practice offices have posters with a QR code. By scanning this QR code, anyone with symptoms consistent with a mosquito-borne disease can report a mosquito problem. Upon receiving each report, inspectors from the vector control team will check the surrounding area for mosquito breeding sites. If any are found, they will be treated. The team also provides tips on how to prevent the spread of mosquitoes.
Consultation Hours for Travelers
Infectious diseases found abroad may differ from those on Bonaire. Travelers can protect themselves by seeking travel advice in advance or arranging vaccinations through Public Health Bonaire. In some cases, a yellow fever vaccination is even mandatory. For this reason, Public Health Bonaire has once again drawn attention to its travel consultation hours in a press release aimed at travelers to Venezuela, Colombia, and other countries in South America. In the first quarter, Public Health Bonaire conducted 101 traveler consultations. These primarily concerned trips to Colombia, Suriname, and Panama.
A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travelers who have been in a high-risk area within the ten days prior to arrival on Bonaire. This also applies to infants 9 months and older.
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