Sexual health in the Dutch Caribbean: mpox and hepatitis B

If new sexual partners are part of your life as a couple, travelling does not change the basic rules of sexual health, but it complicates them: another health system, another language, less time to see a doctor. This guide reviews what the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for Aruba and Curaçao, the two main Dutch Caribbean islands, consulted on 7 November 2026. It is not individual medical advice: discuss it with a travel-medicine or sexual-health professional before leaving, and with margin, because some vaccines take several weeks. For each island's context, read the guides to Curaçao and Aruba.

What the CDC say about vaccines

For both islands the CDC recommends keeping routine vaccines up to date (chickenpox, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, flu, measles-mumps-rubella, polio and shingles), the COVID-19 vaccine for those eligible and, specifically, hepatitis A from age one for the unvaccinated and hepatitis B for unvaccinated travellers of any age. It also recommends that all international travellers be up to date with measles vaccination, with an early dose for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Hepatitis B: why it matters

Hepatitis B can be transmitted sexually. If you lack the full series, start planning it with your doctor as soon as possible, since the full schedule is spread over several visits. The CDC recommends it for all unvaccinated travellers to these islands, not only those with an active sex life with several partners.

Mpox: the concrete recommendation

The CDC recommends the mpox vaccine for adults who expect to have new sexual partners, attend commercial sex venues, have sex in exchange for something of value or have sexual contact at large public events. The first dose should be given at least six weeks before travel (or as early as possible), the second four weeks later, and full protection comes about two weeks after the second. That logic also applies if your trip is not to one of these islands: ask your public health service.

Mosquitoes: dengue and Zika

Dengue and Zika are spread by mosquitoes. For dengue there is no vaccine or medicine listed on that sheet, so prevention means avoiding bites: repellent with at least 20% DEET, clothing that covers skin and air-conditioned or screened rooms. Zika can pass from a pregnant woman to her baby: if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, talk to your doctor before travelling.

Other notices

For Curaçao the CDC cites leptospirosis (avoid floodwater or stagnant water), melioidosis (cover open wounds), hantavirus (avoid rodents) and tuberculosis (avoid sick people). On yellow fever, the vaccine is not recommended on these islands, but a certificate is required for those arriving from risk countries. Remember rabies too: rabid dogs are not common, but talk to your doctor if you will have animal contact.

Practical habits for couples in the lifestyle

Although not from the CDC, these are widely accepted practices: agree clear rules with your partner before the trip; bring your own condoms and lubricants from home; get tested regularly and share results with those who need them; do not make decisions under heavy alcohol; and always ask about health status, protection methods and limits, respectfully. If something goes wrong, seek medical care, and tell your insurer as soon as possible.

If there are no venues, what then?

We could not verify any club or lifestyle event in Aruba or Curaçao with an official website, so we list none. That is why this guide focuses on what we can stand behind: health and prevention. And if you are looking at another region, the Ecuador health guide and the Venezuela one cover different risks.

Talking it through as a couple before leaving

The best prevention starts at home: a calm conversation about what you want to do, what you do not, how you will communicate during the trip and what you would do in a mishap. Decide with whom and how you will share health information, review pending tests and schedule multi-dose vaccines in good time. If either of you has doubts, wait: a trip is not fixed by a half-made decision.

Sources and limits

This guide relies on official sources consulted on 7 November 2026; travel advice, entry requirements and health recommendations change at short notice and depend on your nationality, so always confirm with your consulate, the country's embassy and a health professional. We have not added data that does not appear in those sources, and where something could not be checked we say so. References:

• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/aruba
• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/curacao

Frequently asked questions

Is the mpox vaccine necessary to travel to Aruba or Curaçao? It is not an entry requirement; the CDC recommends it in specific situations.

How many doses? Two, four weeks apart, starting at least six weeks before travel.

And hepatitis B? The CDC recommends it for unvaccinated travellers of any age.

Where do I book? At your public health service or travel-medicine clinic.