Baku has a light reputation for bites. Sheki's sand flies are the ones to plan for.
- No CDC travel notice for mosquito-borne disease
No dengue, chikungunya or recent West Nile has been reported in Azerbaijan, and WHO certified the country malaria-free in 2023. Leishmaniasis, spread by sand flies that bite from dusk to dawn, is the bite-borne disease to know, mostly in lowland districts and around Sheki, and repellent after dark covers it.
Some, but Baku has a light reputation for bites, and no mosquito-borne disease has been reported in Azerbaijan in recent years. The insect to know is the sand fly, which bites from dusk to dawn in lowland districts and around Sheki and spreads leishmaniasis. WHO certified Azerbaijan malaria-free in 2023, and CDC recommends no malaria medicine or yellow fever vaccine.
Baku and the Caspian coast
Baku is a low-risk stop. No mosquito-borne disease has been reported there, the city is not among the leishmaniasis districts named in recent data, and it has a light reputation for bites. No local dengue or chikungunya has been reported anywhere in Azerbaijan, CDC's Azerbaijan page lists no dengue, chikungunya or Zika, and no recent human West Nile cases have been reported either.
June to September is hot in Baku and on the Absheron coast. Carry a small spray for evenings outdoors, choose an air-conditioned room and keep the windows closed at night. Autumn is more comfortable for sightseeing, and hotel prices start to dip from September, Lonely Planet notes.
Sheki, the lowlands and sand flies
CDC's Azerbaijan page lists leishmaniasis, spread by phlebotomine sand flies that bite from dusk to dawn, and both forms of the disease occur. Local health-center records counted 170 visceral cases in 2014–2018 from 33 districts, 85% of them in children under 5. Barda (15%) and Terter (14%) led the list, with Sheki and Shamkir at 8% each, and the national rate peaked in 2016–2019 at 0.40 to 0.61 cases per 100,000 people, according to WHO data. The cutaneous form adds a steady trickle, with 366 cases reported in 2005–2020.
For Sheki and village stays in the lowlands, put repellent on after dark and wear long sleeves for the evening. Gabala, in the mountains, isn't named in the leishmaniasis data, and the same evening habit works there too. Have a doctor check any skin sore that doesn't heal after the trip, and mention where you traveled. Our guide to how long repellent lasts helps you time the evening top-up.
Around livestock and on rural hikes, ticks are the other bite to know. CDC lists Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever for Azerbaijan, spread by tick bites and by contact with the body fluids of an infected animal or person, and advises a repellent with 20% or more DEET for those trips. Check for ticks after a walk in the countryside.
Where you're going
How the main stops compare for a June–September trip.
Baku & the Absheron coast
No mosquito-borne disease reported, and Baku is not among the leishmaniasis districts named in recent data. Pick an air-conditioned room and keep the windows closed at night.
Sheki
Sheki district accounted for 8% of visceral leishmaniasis cases in 2014–2018, mostly in young children. Wear repellent and long sleeves after dark.
Gabala
A mountain resort area that isn't named in the leishmaniasis data. Carry a small spray for evenings outside, and check for ticks after a countryside walk.
Heading on to Tbilisi or the Black Sea? Our Georgia briefing covers Tbilisi, Kakheti and Batumi, and our Türkiye briefing covers Istanbul and the coast.
The Azerbaijan kit
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless for evenings in Baku and after-dark walks in Sheki, when the sand flies bite. One 3.4 oz bottle covers about a week of daily use for one person.
- A light long-sleeved layer for evenings in the lowlands and the foothills.
One more rule outlasts the trip. Any fever during or after your trip, or a skin sore that won't heal, means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Azerbaijan.
Traveler questions
Do I need malaria pills for Azerbaijan?
No. WHO certified Azerbaijan malaria-free in 2023, and CDC's Azerbaijan page recommends no malaria medicine for any area of the country. The yellow fever vaccine is neither recommended nor required. CDC lists two bite-borne diseases for Azerbaijan, leishmaniasis from sand flies and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever from ticks, and its advice for both is to avoid bug bites.
Are there mosquitoes in Baku?
A few, and Baku has a light reputation for bites. No mosquito-borne disease has been reported in the city, and it is not among the districts named in recent leishmaniasis data. An air-conditioned room with the windows closed at night and a small spray for evenings outdoors cover a city stay.
Where is leishmaniasis a risk in Azerbaijan?
Mostly in the countryside. Local health-center records counted 170 visceral cases in 2014–2018 from 33 districts, led by Barda and Terter, with Sheki and Shamkir at 8% each, and 85% of the patients were children under 5. The cutaneous form is reported too, with 366 cases in 2005–2020. Sand flies bite from dusk to dawn, so repellent after dark and long sleeves are the protection. Have a doctor check any skin sore that doesn't heal after the trip.
Do I need to worry about ticks?
Only on rural hikes, farm stays and around livestock. CDC lists Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever for Azerbaijan, spread by tick bites and by contact with the body fluids of an infected animal or person. For those trips, CDC advises a repellent with 20% or more DEET. Check for ticks after a walk in the countryside, and see a doctor about a fever after a tick bite.
Sources
Health authorities, surveillance reports and news coverage of official bulletins used for this briefing, last checked October 2026. Traveler reports are linked where they appear. This page summarizes public-health guidance and is not medical advice.