'Ebola risk to Caribbean low' - CARPHA

‘Ebola risk to Caribbean low’ – CARPHA

May 22, 2026 News

…urges heightened vigilance following WHO emergency declaration

(Kaieteur News) – Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration on May 16, 2026, that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has assessed the current risk to the Caribbean Region as low.

The declaration of a PHEIC underscores the need for heightened international and regional vigilance and coordination.

In a statement, CARPHA said it continues to monitor closely, the outbreak through its global scanning and early warning mechanisms, while leveraging its integrated suite of regional surveillance tools to support timely detection and situational awareness.

These systems include event-based and indicator-based surveillance platforms with early warning alerts, such as the Tourism and Health Information System (THiS), the Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS), national syndromic surveillance through the District Health Information System (DHIS), and the Talkwalker social listening platform.

The current outbreak is caused by the relatively rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain, for which there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments. Ebola transmission requires close, direct physical contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who is already symptomatic, or with contaminated materials.

Speaking on the WHO declaration and the Region’s preparedness measures, Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, stated:

“Despite the low risk, CARPHA is urging its Member States to maintain a high state of readiness. Because the Caribbean is a major global travel hub, the primary way the virus could arrive is through an infected traveler. CARPHA provides a layered, yet proactive approach to early warning, supporting Member States in the early detection, verification, and response to emerging health threats.”

CARPHA continues to collaborate with a wide range of international and regional partners that share information on cross-border disease spread to strengthen regional health security.

On May 18, CARPHA partnered with the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) to reactivate an advanced electronic screening system at border entry points. The system securely flags and reviews the travel history of passengers arriving from, or transiting through, affected areas in Africa, while minimising disruption to normal travel and trade.

Ebola and its Symptoms

Ebola is a severe and often fatal illness. Although the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain — historically associated with a lower fatality rate than some other Ebola strains — it can still cause serious illness.

Symptoms typically appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure and may include:

Fever and severe headache
Muscle pain and weakness
Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
Sore throat
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Stomach pain
Unexplained bruising or bleeding (in some cases)

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons, as well as through contact with surfaces and materials contaminated by these fluids. Infection may also occur through exposure to infected wildlife. Individuals infected with Ebola become contagious once symptoms begin to develop.

While the current outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic, it represents an extraordinary public health event requiring coordinated international action. CARPHA Member States are therefore reminded to remain vigilant due to the possibility of travel-associated cases.

CARPHA will continue to monitor the evolving situation closely and provide regular updates to partners across the Region as new information becomes available.

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Caribbean, CARPHA, Ebola, WHO

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