Puerto Rico Travel Vaccines

Puerto Rico Travel Vaccines April 2025

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) recommend several travel vaccines and optional vaccines for rabies, measles, typhoid, and hepatitis when visiting Puerto Rico in 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 the Portal Oficial del Gobierno de Puerto Rico was updated as of April 23, 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, at the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases: Chikungunya epidemiology in U.S. territories and states with risk of transmission. In 2024, chikungunya 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. The Dengue data portal was updated on April 23, 2025, indicating 6,431 cases have been reported in the past year. A Dengue 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%). On February 20, 2024, the CDC published MMWR 74(5): 54–60, "Dengue Outbreak and Response — Puerto Rico." 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 10-year analysis of 1,432 patients with dengue infections in Puerto Rico, 263 (18%) had dengue without warning signs, 788 (55%) had warning signs, 381 (27%) had severe dengue, and two patients (0.1%) died. During the 2010–2013 outbreak, dengue virus (DENV) serotype 1 (DENV-1) was the predominant serotype. After a 10-year decline, DENV-2 and DENV-3 experienced significant increases during 2023–2024, with DENV-3 overtaking DENV-1 as the predominant serotype by 2024, at 57%.

In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Dengvaxia vaccine for individuals 9–16 years old with laboratory evidence of a previous dengue infection and residing in areas where dengue is endemic. 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 Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Malaria Outbreaks

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

Puerto Rico Oropouche Virus

In 2025, the Puerto Rico Department of Health notified health professionals about the Oropouche virus outbreak in the Americas, affecting countries such as 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 was confirmed. As of December 2024, 16 Zika cases have been reported this year. There were 43 reported cases of the Zika virus in 2023. The U.S. CDC and Canada Health say that if you are pregnant, you should not travel to areas with Zika outbreaks. Early-stage clinical trials for Zika vaccines are expected to be conducted in the U.S. in 2024. For example, Valneva SE's VLA1601 is a second-generation, purified, inactivated, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate, which is 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 in 2025. 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.