Bahamas Tourism Declares Great Exuma Free of Malaria Threat

Health officials in the Bahamas have confirmed that there is no longer a threat of malaria to travelers visiting Great Exuma in the Out Islands, following an incubation period of 45 days with no new cases identified.

At this time, officials feel there is no longer a need for special precautions when visiting Great Exuma.

“We are confident that this minor outbreak has been halted and that malaria poses no further risk to residents or visitors,” said Baldwin Carey of the Bahamas Ministry of Health.

The outbreak, first reported in June, was limited to a “very defined area of the capital of Georgetown, and the 19 cases were contacted in late May by a pool of people who came from areas where malaria is endemic,” according to Carey.

The Ministry of Health, with assistance from the Pan American Health Organization, kicked off an aggressive program on the island to identify possible infections, treat where necessary and wipe out environmental sources of the disease.