Miami-Dade Visitors Continue Bringing Infectious Diseases

The Florida Department of Health recently published its Arbovirus Surveillance update #15, disclosing that mosquito-borne diseases have been detected in residents and visitors this year.

While most cases of chikungunya, dengue, and malaria have been confirmed in Miami-Dade County, which is currently under a mosquito-borne illness alert, counties on both Florida's coasts have reported infections.

As of April 12, 2025, there was one confirmed travel-related case of chikungunya in 2025. Eleven instances of chikungunya onset in 2024 were reported in individuals with a travel history to Brazil (five), India (five), and Pakistan.

Throughout 2025, fifty-nine cases of dengue fever were reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, and one locally acquired case of dengue (DEN-3) was reported in Miami-Dade County. 

As of December 2024, 1,016 travel-associated dengue cases had been reported, primarily among visitors from Brazil, Cuba (567), and Puerto Rico. In 2024, 91 locally acquired dengue cases were reported from ten counties (Miami-Dade (50),

This year, ten travel-related malaria cases have been confirmed in the state of Florida. In 2024, 72 cases of travel-related malaria were reported in individuals with a history of visiting malaria-endemic areas, such as Africa (Nigeria) and Central and South America.

From a disease-prevention perspective, while chikungunya vaccines are amply available in Florida, dengue and malaria vaccines are only available in other countries.

As of April 19, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada Health, and the United Kingdom have not issued vaccination requirements for visiting Florida; however, these agencies recommend staying up to date with recommended vaccines as the best travel advice.