MHES Moves to Update List of Notifiable Diseases

The Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES) obtained Cabinet’s approval on 12th March, to amend the list of Notifiable diseases to reflect current risks and the international standards . These amendments further strengthen early detection, consistent reporting, and timely intervention across the health system for diseases that could pose a threat to the public.

The Notifiable Diseases Schedule is a list of specific infectious diseases included in the Public Health Act (2026 Revision), that health professionals and the public are required by law to report to public health authorities, when a patient is diagnosed or suspected.  

Clinicians are required under section 19 of the Public Health Act (2026 Revision) to report immediately any confirmed or suspected notifiable disease to the Senior Medical Officer of Health. A completed report must be submitted to the Public Health Department immediately.

The Public Health Act (2026 Revision) and the Public Health (Communicable Diseases) Regulations (1997 Revision), form part of the Government’s legal and public health infrastructure for tracking and managing diseases, and for protecting the health of the community. 
The Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said: “Protecting the health of our people is both a responsibility and a commitment we take seriously. The update to the Notifiable Diseases Schedule strengthens our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to the evolving public health landscape and aligns more closely with regional and global surveillance networks. Also importantly, it provides clarity to individuals and medical professionals, so that everyone understands their obligations under the law and can act in a manner that reduces the risk of disease transmission.”

“At its core, this update is about being better prepared. We have taken a careful look at how we track infectious diseases, both the ones we see every year and the new threats that can emerge without warning, and we know there is more we can do to strengthen our systems,” adds Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hilary Wolf. “By improving surveillance throughout Cayman, we can spot patterns earlier and better understand whether our public health programmes are truly making the impact we expect.”

Commenting on the update, the Acting Chief Officer for Health, Environment and Sustainability, Mrs. Bobeth O’Garro adds: “The Ministry intends to bring further updates to both the primary and secondary public health legislation later this year to ensure full alignment and clarity within our legal framework. These updates will form part of our broader commitment to maintaining a modern and transparent public health system that supports compliance.”

The update to the Notifiable Diseases List forms part of a broader initiative by the Ministry to bring public health directly under Government oversight. This approach will strengthen coordination across public health programmes, disease prevention efforts, and emergency response activities, supporting improved surveillance and faster responses to emerging health threats while safeguarding the health and safety of communities across the Islands.