Palau's dengue centers on Koror. Days on the water are the easy part.
Palau has had repeated dengue outbreaks, with most cases in Koror, and a smaller rise in the fall of 2025. Weekly reports have stayed low through 2026, and there is no malaria. Plan on daytime repellent in town and on Babeldaob's trails, and a closed door in the evening at a Koror resort.
Are there mosquitoes in Palau? Yes, including the day-biting kind that spreads dengue, which has broken out here several times, mostly in Koror. Reports have been low through 2026, and there is no malaria. Dive and Rock Islands days on the water tend to be light on bites, so the routine matters most in Koror and on Babeldaob's trails.
Dengue keeps coming back to Koror
Palau had dengue outbreaks in 2016–17 and 2018–19, and both centered on Koror. The Pacific Island Times reported 362 cases and 3 deaths by July 10, 2017. An outbreak declared in December 2018 reached 486 cases and 1 death by August 12, 2019, mostly in Koror and then Airai, according to the Island Times, and the paper later counted about 570 cases since December, with 127 in August alone. CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report also noted a DENV-3 outbreak in Palau in 2019.
The 2025 rise was smaller. Six cases were confirmed among residents in July 2025, with two different strains circulating, the Island Times reported. The World Health Organization's Pacific surveillance then showed weekly reports of dengue-like illness rising sharply in late September and peaking at about 13 in early October 2025. In 2026, those reports have run at 0 to 3 a week, close to the five-year median, with a small increase in early March and 3 a week from mid-September into early October. The newest confirmed case count is from July 2025. Palau has no CDC travel notice and isn't on CDC's global dengue list.
The dengue mosquito bites in daylight, with peaks after sunrise and in the late afternoon. In Koror and on Babeldaob, put repellent on in the morning, again after diving or snorkeling, and again from late afternoon. Our dengue & Zika routine has the full schedule. CDC also lists Zika for Palau, with no current outbreak, so if you're pregnant, discuss the trip with a healthcare provider. CDC lists leptospirosis too, which isn't spread by insects. Avoid floodwater and wading in fresh water or mud.
Koror evenings, Rock Islands days
Most of a dive or Rock Islands trip is spent on the water, away from populated areas, and liveaboards spend their nights offshore, where mosquitoes tend to be rare. The bites wait on land. Evenings and nights at Koror-area resorts can bring mosquitoes indoors, so choose a screened, air-conditioned room, keep doors closed from late afternoon and use a bed net in an open bungalow. On Babeldaob, jungle waterfall hikes such as Ngardmau are likely to bring more bites, so long sleeves help there.
When to go
Palau tends to be wet all year, with the heaviest rain from about June to October. January to April, the drier stretch, tends to be the easier time. In both 2025 and 2026, dengue reports in those months were near zero apart from small blips. August to October brought the recent rises, with 127 cases in August 2019 and the early-October peak in 2025. In any month, check the Ministry of Health's latest dengue news before you fly.
Where you're going
How Koror, the water and Babeldaob compare across the year.
Koror
Where most cases in the 2016–17 and 2018–19 outbreaks were. Use daytime repellent in town, and pick a screened, air-conditioned room with the door kept shut from late afternoon.
Rock Islands & Jellyfish Lake
Boat days to uninhabited limestone islands, so dengue exposure is low. Forested landings may have mosquitoes, so reapply after snorkeling before you step ashore.
Carp Island & the liveaboards
Liveaboards spend their nights offshore, where mosquitoes tend to be rare. Carp Island's reviewers say its bungalows let mosquitoes in at night, so bring repellent and a bed net.
Babeldaob: Airai & Ngardmau
Airai, home to the airport, was the second-hardest-hit state in 2019. Jungle hikes such as Ngardmau Waterfall are likely to bring more bites, so cover up and spray at the trailhead.
Connecting through Guam? Our Guam briefing covers its much quieter dengue picture. Adding the Philippines? Our Philippines briefing covers its dengue and the CDC malaria advice for Palawan.
The Palau kit
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless in the heat, layers over sunscreen and quick to reapply after a dive. One 3.4 oz bottle covers about a week of daily use for one person.
- A full-size backup in the checked bag, since daytime and evening use for dengue empties a travel bottle fast.
- A travel bed net if you're staying in an open bungalow, such as on Carp Island.
What travelers report
Paraphrased from a TripAdvisor review and forum thread and linked so you can read them in full. Neither is dated, and conditions vary a lot from one resort to the next.
- Palau Pacific Resort, Koror · evening
A guest praised the hotel but described a swarm of mosquitoes in the evening. Staff used sprays and coils, but the guests still had to block the gap under the door with a towel. The reviewer thought it might be seasonal. TripAdvisor ↗
- The Carolines, Koror
A forum poster said they had rarely been bothered by mosquitoes in Palau, particularly while staying at The Carolines. TripAdvisor ↗
One rule outlasts the trip. Any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Palau, especially if it comes with headache, rash or body aches in the two weeks after you get home. Our after-bites guide covers the warning signs.
Traveler questions
Is there dengue in Palau right now?
At low levels. The World Health Organization's Pacific surveillance shows Palau's weekly reports of dengue-like illness at 0 to 3 a week through 2026, close to the five-year median, after a sharp rise that peaked in early October 2025. Palau has no CDC travel notice. Most cases in past outbreaks were in Koror, so use daytime repellent there and on Babeldaob.
Do liveaboards and Rock Islands trips have mosquitoes?
Usually few. Liveaboards spend the night offshore, where mosquitoes tend to be rare, and Rock Islands trips are boat days to uninhabited islands, so dengue exposure there is low. Forested landings may have some mosquitoes, and the nights before and after in Koror are where the routine matters most.
Do I need malaria pills or a yellow fever vaccine for Palau?
No. CDC lists no malaria for Palau and recommends no malaria medicine. The yellow fever vaccine is not recommended, and Palau doesn't require it for entry.
Is it safe to visit Palau while pregnant?
CDC lists Zika for Palau, as an area with current or past transmission and no current outbreak. Zika can pass from a pregnant woman to her baby, so discuss the trip with a healthcare provider before you book.
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.
- CDC destination page for travelers
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization
- World Health Organization
- islandtimes.org
- pacificislandtimes.com
- islandtimes.org
- islandtimes.org
- islandtimes.org
- Peer-reviewed study (PubMed Central)
- CDC Travelers' Health