The Pacific Community has recently reported that mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, are rising sharply throughout the various island nations in the Western Pacific Region.
As of July 16, 2025, the SPC reported American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu had confirmed dengue cases in 2025.
Of note, the American Samoa Department of Health declared the dengue outbreak in the country a public health emergency as of early July. A red alert for DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes has been added.
To alert international travelers of this serious health risk, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reissued its Level 1 – Practice Usual Precautions, Travel Health Advisory on July 17, 2025.
For 16 countries, the CDC recommends that travelers visiting dengue outbreaks should prevent mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room or a room with window screens.
While many of these countries offer access to dengue vaccines, the United States does not, except for children in Puerto Rico, where dengue has become endemic.