Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko monitors which infectious diseases are present on our island throughout the year. We provide a brief update every quarter. This helps everyone stay informed about what’s happening and what you can do to stay healthy.
Ships
All over the world, every ship must complete a health declaration before arriving at a port. This declaration states whether there are any sick people on board. If there are people with a contagious disease, Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko is notified. Public Health Bonaire then assesses the situation and, if necessary, provides advice to the ship. Very rarely is a ship denied entry, but this almost never happens.
In the second quarter of 2026 (Q2), Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko received health declarations from 39 (cruise) ships. The number of sick passengers on board was low on most cruise ships.
In the Caribbean region, a relatively large outbreak was reported in late April aboard the cruise ship Caribbean Princess, in which many passengers and crew members experienced stomach symptoms (norovirus). This ship did not call at Bonaire. Read more here .
An outbreak of the Hantavirus was also reported internationally on a Dutch cruise ship, the M/V Hondius. Read more about this outbreak here .
Both situations highlight the importance of our public health mission at the port, where we strive to ensure that infectious diseases do not enter Bonaire via (cruise) ships.
Flu & Cold Symptoms
The number of people who visited their primary care physician with flu or cold symptoms in April, May, and June (Q2) was lower than during the same period in 2021–2025. This was also the case in Q1. It is possible that fewer people are seeing their family doctor with these symptoms, which may be why the situation appears milder this year. Laboratory data from Q2 showed that the most common viruses were rhinovirus/enterovirus (a common cold virus) and RSV, a virus that primarily affects young children.
Sexual Health Consultation Hours
Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko 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 Q2, the nurses saw 50 clients, 45 of whom were tested for STIs. A total of 72 clients have been tested this year, of whom 15 had chlamydia and 1 had gonorrhea.
Mosquito-borne Diseases
In Q2, few people with symptoms of a mosquito-borne disease, such as dengue or chikungunya, visited their primary care physician. There have been only a few cases of dengue in recent months.
Posters with a QR code are displayed at all primary care practices. By scanning this QR code, anyone with symptoms consistent with a mosquito-borne disease can report mosquito activity (or nuisance). Inspectors from the vector control team will then investigate each report to check for mosquito breeding sites in the residential area. If any are found, they will be treated. The team also provides tips to prevent the spread of the disease. Do you have questions about mosquito-borne diseases? Check it the frequently asked questions here.
Consultation Hours for Travelers
In other countries, infectious diseases may sometimes differ from those found on Bonaire. Travelers can protect themselves against these by obtaining travel advice or vaccinations in a timely manner through Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko. For this reason, Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko has once again drawn attention to its travel consultation hours in a press release, particularly for travelers heading to the World Cup. In Q2, Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko conducted 218 traveler consultations, double the number compared to the just over 100 consultations in Q1. These consultations primarily involved travelers to Colombia, Suriname, Panama, Brazil and Peru.
Vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory for travelers who have been in a high-risk area, such as Colombia, within the ten days prior to arrival on Bonaire. This also applies to children and infants aged 9 months and older.
For more information: · Call (+599) 715 5324 or email IZB@bonairegov.com. Click here.
Abdominal discomfort
In Q2, more people with stomach symptoms visited their primary care physician compared to the previous months. Around King’s Day, a food-related outbreak was reported at a school. Several teachers and students developed stomach symptoms after a dinner party. Together with the school, Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko investigated what might have caused it. All students and teachers recovered quickly.
Between May and early June, more people than usual also reported stomach flu to their general practitioners for several consecutive weeks. For four weeks, the number of patients seeing general practitioners remained above the expected level. Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko investigated possible causes during this period. Together with Bonlab N.V., they investigated whether the increase was caused by a specific bacterium or a specific virus.
This revealed that several people had an STEC infection. STEC is a bacterium that can cause symptoms such as (bloody) diarrhea and abdominal pain. Infection can occur through food, water, or contact with animals. Cows, goats, and sheep are the main animals that can carry the bacterium.
Although most people make a full recovery, in rare cases the infection can cause serious complications, such as kidney problems. No link was found between the various individuals with an STEC infection. As a result, it could not be determined whether they were infected from the same source or in the same way.
Public Health Bonaire / Salubridat Públiko advises everyone to practice good hygiene when preparing and eating food. Good hygiene and food safety reduce the risk of stomach problems. Good hand hygiene is also important after contact with other animals, such as the donkeys roaming freely on Bonaire, to reduce the risk of various infections.
