WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) says it is closely monitoring the latest international developments surrounding the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, while emphasizing that the current risk to the Caribbean region, including Curaçao, remains low.
According to the ministry, the outbreak is primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and parts of Uganda, where cases linked to the Bundibugyo Ebola variant have been reported.
GMN stated that on Sunday, May 17, the World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC).
As of May 19, health authorities in Congo and Uganda had officially reported a total of 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, 34 confirmed infections and 134 deaths linked to the outbreak.
Despite the international alert, global health organizations currently consider the risk to the Caribbean region to be low.
The ministry is advising residents traveling to Africa to carefully check which regions are currently affected by Ebola before departure.
According to GMN, Ebola is a serious infectious disease caused by a virus that can trigger severe internal bleeding and other life-threatening complications. The disease occurs only in certain parts of Africa.
Health officials stressed that Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person and is not transmitted through the air by coughing or sneezing.
The ministry emphasized that strong cooperation between public and private sector partners remains essential to protecting public health.
GMN said Curaçao will continue monitoring the international situation closely in coordination with local, regional and international health authorities and will provide further updates to the public if necessary.