The CDC reports no malaria in Manila. Dengue is the one to plan for, especially on a family visit.

Yes. Manila has the day-biting Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue, and in February 2025 Quezon City, part of Metro Manila, declared a dengue outbreak. The CDC reports no malaria in metropolitan Manila, so a layover needs nothing extra. Most bites come outdoors and in homes without screens, which makes a family stay different from a hotel trip. Our Philippines briefing covers the rest of the country.

Dengue: a quiet year after a big one

Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak on February 15, 2025, after counting nearly three times as many cases in the first six weeks of the year as a year earlier. This year has been much quieter. By early August 2026, Quezon City's count was roughly half of the same period in 2025, with children 10 and under the most affected, according to press reports of city figures. Nationally, the health department reported roughly 40% fewer cases from January to August 2026.

The mosquito breeds in water containers around homes and bites in daylight, with peaks after sunrise and in the late afternoon. Put repellent on over sunscreen in the morning and late afternoon, and sleep in an air-conditioned or screened room. Our dengue & Zika routine has the full schedule.

Layovers and hotel stays

The CDC's Philippines page reports "No malaria transmission in metropolitan Manila (the capital) or other urban areas," and says Japanese encephalitis vaccine is "Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas." A connection spent airside or in an NAIA airport hotel means little dengue exposure, so carry repellent only for daytime trips out.

On a hotel trip, bites mostly come outdoors, around Intramuros and in Makati's open-air strolling areas. Continuing to Palawan, Siargao or elsewhere in Mindanao? The CDC recommends malaria medicine there, so see a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before departure.

Staying with family

A visit home usually means more exposure than a hotel trip. Houses with open windows, water drums, pails, potted plants and no screens are where the dengue mosquito breeds and bites, and growing up in the Philippines doesn't make you immune. You can catch dengue more than once, and a second infection can be more severe than the first.

Use repellent on children too; our guide for babies and kids covers what's safe at each age. Help empty or cover water drums, pails and plant saucers around the house. The CDC's page also warns of leptospirosis after floods and of counterfeit rabies vaccines, so stay out of floodwater and take any dog bite to a major hospital.

When to go

Manila's dry season runs roughly December to May, and January to April tends to be the easiest stretch. Rain, typhoons and street flooding come roughly June to November, worst from July to October. Dengue usually builds through the rains, though the 2025 wave peaked early, in February. Many family visits fall around Christmas, in the drier months.

Where you're going

Continuing to the islands? Our Boracay and Cebu & Bohol briefings cover two popular stops outside the CDC's malaria listing.

What travelers report

Paraphrased from TripAdvisor threads and reviews and linked so you can read them in full. Only the Makati thread is dated (2025), and bites vary with the season, the neighborhood and where you stay.

• Makati · August · 2025

  Asked about mosquitoes in Makati in August, a poster said Makati has a lower propensity for mosquitoes and dengue than other parts of Metro Manila, but that the risk is not zero. TripAdvisor ↗

• Circuit Lane, Makati

  In a review titled 'Strolling & Insect Bites', a visitor warned others to expect a lot of mosquito bites and flies. TripAdvisor ↗

• Intramuros, Manila

  A reviewer said they had to escape the mosquitoes while walking Intramuros and described pools of dirty water along the way. TripAdvisor ↗

One rule outlasts the trip. Any fever during or within two weeks after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in the Philippines. Until dengue is ruled out, take acetaminophen (paracetamol) rather than ibuprofen or aspirin.

Traveler questions