Updated June 19, 2009
To date there have been no cases of Influenza A H1/N1 in Aruba. The Department of Public Health of Aruba has taken all the necessary steps to ensure the island’s preparedness and to prevent an occurrence of Influenza A H1/N1 in Aruba.
It has been determined that crew members and at least one passenger on the Ocean Dream, operated by Pullmantur are infected with the A H1N1 virus. Aruba is the turnaround port of the Ocean Dream and passengers embark and disembark the ship in Aruba.
Aruba has taken measures to protect the visitors and population on our island, while at the same time taking care of the crew and passenger of the ship that have Influenza A H1/N1 and those who have developed influenza-like symptoms. Passengers with influenza-like symptoms will be tested. All those without symptoms or that test negative will leave the island. Pullmantur has been requested to arrange for their flights to their destination.
Upon arrival of the ship in Aruba, all precautions as per health regulations issued by WHO & PAHO will be applied. A thorough plan of action is planned and will be implemented immediately.
All passengers and crew members on the ship will be screened and those infected or show symptoms will receive treatment and remain on board until further notice.
The non-infected (healthy) passengers, that have a confirmed flight for departure today, will remain in the terminal until their flight departure time and will then be transported to the airport for departure.
The ship will remain in the port of Aruba until further notice, in order to apply the Sanitation Protocol according to the WHO. As to the passengers that are arriving with flights today to embark on the Ocean Dream, Pullmantur has taken care of the accommodations here in Aruba.
Aruba has done its utmost to extend its care to all the passengers, for the safety of all its visitors and population. Thank you for your cooperation and whatever your destination may be, we wish you a safe flight. To those staying in Aruba, we wish you a pleasant stay.
As a final note, all travelers should follow the hygiene guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus as directed on the websites of the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (www.who.int/en/ and www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ and www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
If you think you have symptoms of the Influenza A H1/N1 (fever of 100F/38C, dry cough, sore throat), you should call the Influenza Diagnostic Center at:
(297) 5887130 or (297) 5887280
While the Swine Flu virus has not been reported in the Caribbean, Aruba has already begun adopting measures for greater surveillance and prevention as per Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Although there have been neither reported nor suspected cases of swine flu in Aruba, the Aruba Department of Health is taking all necessary steps to ensure the island’s preparedness. The Department of Health is also working with the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) and the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA) as well as other entities concerned to provide accurate information and allow for coordinated efforts.
The Department of Health is following the protocol established by CAREC (Caribbean Epidemiology Centre) which includes:
- Alerting health care providers to increase vigilance
- Develop a communications plan for the local community
- Revision of the country’s pandemic plans and preparedness on implementation measures as per WHO pandemic phases
- Additionally, all travelers to Aruba are required to fill in a form on their state of health upon arrival.
No restrictions of tourists travelling from the affected area have been reported.
We will continue to monitor the situation and adapt strategies accordingly.
In the meantime, travelers should follow simple guidelines to help prevent the spread of the virus as directed on the websites of the World Health Organization (www.who.int/en/) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/).
Preventive Measures: What is being done at the moment:
- All 4 entry points into Aruba are being monitored by the Department of Health (DOH) officials and Red Cross volunteers.
- A quick scan is being conducted at all entry points (passengers & crew members must complete a form) and they are “checked/screened” on their health status.
- All airlines & cruisheship companies must adhere to the International Health Organization protocol which means that they all must report of any suspected case(s) on board to destination country, their company headquarters and to the CDC.
- All arriving cruise ships which are normally inspected and cleared by custom officials will now be also inspected by DOH officials & Red Cross volunteer(s).
- IASA (Department of in charge of border control) will use 3 heat scanners to detect possible flu symptoms such as fever.
- The DOH will also establish a detection center where suspected cases can be registered, screened and receive assistance. These are all preventive measures to avoid spreading the virus.
- The DOH has provided for testing of the Influenza A and Influenza B viruses at a half-day, lab turn-around in allowing for the expedient, accurate classification of any suspected cases.
- An awareness campaign focusing on prevention has been launched through the media which included posters & information flyers on hygiene protocols.
- The Department of Health (DOH) is in constant communication with WTO, PAHO & CAREC officials to discuss strategies & action items. The WHO has not recommended the use of surgical masks on island as not to create unnecessary panic reactions.
- The DOH is buying more medication from The Netherlands
(The USA has closed off all flu medication sales) to increase the current island’s inventory as a precaution.
- The Red Cross will also assist by putting one of their ambulance vehicles at the disposal of the DOH.
- Many of the island’s resorts follow protocol related to blood-borne pathogen, pandemic and biohazard trainings.
- The Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association is working with its member hotels in assisting individual response plans, as well as contributing to the implementation of aggregate plan for the entire tourism sector.