French Polynesia, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, has been a dream vacation destination for decades.
However, these islands are also home to dengue fever, which is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
According to Bulletin de surveillance sanitaire de Polynésie française n°34, published on September 2, 2025, there were 22 new dengue cases (19 confirmed last week.
And the blue alert for DENV-1 remains in effect.
Since November 2023, a total of 2,577 cases have been recorded.
To alert international travelers of this health risk, the U.S. CDC’s Travel Health Advisory issued on August 21, 2025, included French Polynesia.
The CDC identified the island groups of the Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora), the Marquesas Islands (Hiva Oa and Ua Huka), and the Austral Islands (Tubuai and Rurutu).
The CDC reported that these countries are experiencing higher-than-usual numbers of cases and have identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries.
While a second-generation dengue vaccine is available in various countries, it is not offered in the USA.
Fortunately, several dengue vaccine candidates are conducting late-stage research focused on preventing all four virus types from infecting people.