Update - May 07, 2009
In contributing to the island’s preparedness in the face of the threat of a H1N1 pandemic, the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA) has retained a third-party medical services provider, Med-Work, who is working with AHATA-member resorts as the conduit for administration, information and education. With regards to tourists entering the island and developing symptoms after two or three days, the Department of Public Health has set-up a response team for the hotels. Visitors will have to call the Diagnostic Center at telephone number: 588-7280 or 588-7130. This center is ONLY for Influenza Like Illness and will be accessible 24/7. Visitors, staying at AHATA-member resorts, can also seek assistance directly from the hotel, simply by calling to the front desk.
To date, there have been no swine flu cases reported in Aruba, nor in the Caribbean region. However, 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.
- any 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.
