Puerto Rico Travel Vaccines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.K.'s NHS recommend several travel vaccines and optional vaccines for rabies, measles, typhoid, and hepatitis when visiting Puerto Rico in March 2025. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Canadian government issued Travel Health Notices regarding Dengue and Zika virus outbreaks in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Department of Health issued Arboviral Disease Reports and updated the Portal Oficial del Gobierno de Puerto Rico as of March 18, 2025.

Puerto Rico Chikungunya Outbreaks

Chikungunya is an acute viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aeqypti mosquito in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, the first laboratory-confirmed case was in May 2014. Susan Hills MBBS MTH presented on June 26, 2024 - Chikungunya epidemiology in U.S. territories and states with risk of transmission National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. In 2024, disease outbreaks were reported throughout the Region of the Americas. Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® single dose chikungunya vaccine in available in the U.S.

Puerto Rico Dengue Outbreaks

The U.S. CDC says the Dengue virus is endemic in Puerto Rico, and a Dengue Update was issued on March 18, 2025. As of March 7, 2025, 936 cases have been reported, representing a 113% increase compared to the same period in 2024. A public health emergency was declared in March 2024 and remains in effect. In 2024, 6,291 cases were reported, and 13 related fatalities, led by San Juan (17.3%). As of December 31, 2023, week #52, 1,242 dengue cases were reported in Puerto Rico. Overall, severe dengue was identified in 4.2% of cases, with 11 reported fatalities (0.2%).

In a ten-year analysis of 1,432 patients with dengue infections in Puerto Rico, 263 (18%) had dengue without warning signs, 788 (55%) had warning signs without severe dengue, 381 (27%) had severe dengue, and two patients (0.1%) died. During the 2010–2013 outbreak, dengue virus (DENV) serotype 1 (DENV-1) predominated. After 10 years, DENV-2 and DENV-3 increased significantly during 2023–2024, with DENV-3 replacing DENV-1 as the predominant serotype in 2024.

In 2019, the U.S. FDA approved the Dengvaxia vaccine for people 9–16 years old with laboratory evidence of a previous dengue infection and living in areas where dengue is common. However, as of September 2024, Puerto Rico's Health Department issued a Notice of Discontinuation for the Dengvaxia vaccine. Furthermore, the Qdenga vaccine has not been approved for use in 2025.

Puerto Rico Malaria Outbreaks

The U.K.'s FitforTravel cautions visitors about malaria infections in 2024. The U.S. CDC says travelers should be informed of risks before visiting countries with malaria outbreaks and take recommended precautions, including avoiding mosquito exposure. The two approved malaria vaccines are available in Africa.

Puerto Rico Oropouche Virus

In August 2024, the Puerto Rico Department of Health informed health professionals about the Oropouche virus outbreak in the Americas, including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Panama, and Cuba.

Puerto Rico Zika Outbreaks

According to the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico has been categorized as having a risk of Zika (ZIKV) virus transmission for several years. In 2025, one Zika case has been confirmed. As of December 2024, 16 Zika cases have been reported this year. There were 43 Zika virus cases reported in 2023. The U.S. CDC and Canada say that if you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas with Zika outbreaks. Early-stage clinical trials for Zika vaccines are being conducted in the U.S. in 2024. For example, Valneva SE's VLA1601 is a second-generation purified, inactivated, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate conducting phase 1 studies.

Puerto Rico Mosquitoes

The primary mosquito vector of dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses on the island of Puerto Rico is Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762). However, Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) and Aedes mediovittatus (Coquillett, 1906) have played significant roles in past outbreaks. Further complicating the issue is the recent detection of Aedes vittatus (Bigot, 1861) in the Caribbean.

Traveling to Puerto Rico in 2025

The U.S. State Department and the local Consulate do not have active Travel Advisories issued for Puerto Rico. The U.S. passport agency is Centro Gubernamental Minillas, Torre Norte, Piso 9, Avenida Jose de Diego, Parada 22, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940. The Canadian government says visitors should take standard security precautions in Puerto Rico.