Environmental health officials are warning that unsafe food practices could threaten both public health and the British Virgin Islands’ tourism-dependent economy, as the Territory prepares to observe World Food Safety Day on June 7. Speaking on the Ministry of Health and Social Development’s Health Bytes programme ahead of World Food Safety Day on June 7, … Continued
The recent nurses’ sick-out that led to clinic disruptions across the Virgin Islands has renewed attention on longstanding healthcare concerns in Jost Van Dyke, where residents say medical services remain inadequate despite the island’s significance to the tourism economy. Second District Representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull says the temporary closure of the Jost Van Dyke clinic … Continued
The BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) wishes to advise the public that the Department of Enterprise & Security (Information Technology Department) will be conducting a scheduled phone system update on Sunday, May 31, 2026, between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. During this period, all BVIHSA landline telephone services will be temporarily offline. … Continued
The Environmental Health Division has launched a public awareness campaign aimed at strengthening food safety practices across the Virgin Islands, reinforcing the message that food safety is everyone’s responsibility. The campaign, launched in advance of World Food Safety Day, will focus on safe food handling practices, sanitation standards, safe food preparation, storage requirements, and practical … Continued
Residents are being advised to not compare the hantavirus outbreak which has killed three passengers from a cruise ship to the covid-19 pandemic. There is still no sign of a larger hantavirus outbreak according to international news. Speaking during a GIS report, Chief Medical officer Dr Ronald Georges has also confirmed that despite the reported … Continued
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is encouraging residents to reduce their salt intake and make healthier food choices as the Territory observes Salt Awareness Week from May 12 to 18 and World Hypertension Day on May 17, 2026. High salt intake is a major contributor to high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, … Continued
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is closely monitoring a reported Hantavirus cluster linked to a cruise vessel outside of the Caribbean region and is reassuring the public that the current risk to the Virgin Islands remains low. According to regional and international public health updates, a small number of cases, including severe illness, … Continued
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is strengthening the delivery of asthma care with the implementation of a Medication Utilization Review. The Ministry has partnered with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Pooled Procurement Service (OECS/PPS) to conduct the review and they will also be responsible for analyzing the data. A Medication Utilization Review … Continued
The World Health Organisation is monitoring a cluster of severe respiratory illness linked to a cruise ship currently moored off the coast of Cabo Verde, after confirmed cases of hantavirus resulted in multiple deaths. According to WHO, seven cases have been identified as of May 4, including two laboratory-confirmed hantavirus infections and five suspected cases. … Continued
Minister for Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley says the Virgin Islands is making significant strides in public health as the Territory observes Vaccination Week in the Americas 2026 under the theme “Your decision makes a difference, immunization for all.” In a statement, Wheatley highlighted ongoing vaccination and education efforts taking place across the Territory, … Continued
