To Avoid Mosquito Transmitted Diseases, Visit Puerto Rico in April Not October

When planning a Caribbean vacation in 2025, it's essential to utilize the latest data to ensure a holiday free from mosquito-borne diseases.

According to the Puerto Rico Department of Health's disease information portal, the number of Chikungunya, dengue, and Zika cases tends to be at its lowest in April each year. In contrast, disease transmission by mosquitoes typically peaks in October during the rainy season in the Caribbean.

For instance, there were 6,431 reported cases of Dengue in Puerto Rico over the past year.

During the week of April 19, 2025, only a minimal number of Dengue cases were reported. However, in early October 2024, the highest number of dengue cases was recorded.

And Puerto Rico's first laboratory-confirmed case of Chikungunya was in May 2014.

Furthermore, 16 Zika cases were reported in 2024, and 43 in 2023.

While the U.S. CDC recommends various routes of vaccination before visiting Puerto Rico, the agency does not encourage the use of U.S. FDA-approved Chikungunya or Takeda's Dengue vaccines.

Therefore, to remain disease-free when visiting Puerto Rico during the summer of 2025, the CDC advises avoiding mosquito bites.