Saba and Statia were quiet for dengue in 2026. Both had outbreaks in 2023 and 2024.
- No CDC travel notice for mosquito-borne disease
RIVM, the Dutch public health institute, counts outbreaks on Sint Eustatius in 2023 and 2024 and on Saba in 2024, and the Dutch travel-health center LCR reported no dengue on either island in 2026 through week 31. A December–April trip falls mostly in the drier months, and daytime repellent on the trails and dive days covers it.
Are there mosquitoes on Saba and Sint Eustatius? Yes, including the day-biting Aedes aegypti that spreads dengue, which is endemic on both islands. Each had an outbreak recently, and neither reported dengue in 2026 through week 31. There is no malaria, so a winter trip needs a daytime repellent habit for the summit trails and the dive boats.
Two busy dengue years, then a quiet 2026
RIVM, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, published case tables for both islands in March 2026. Sint Eustatius, known as Statia, had 48 confirmed and 74 probable cases in 2023 and 21 confirmed and 29 probable in 2024. Saba had 25 confirmed and 5 probable cases in 2024, and 10 people were hospitalized. RIVM lists no deaths in the 2023–2024 outbreaks, notes that testing is limited on both islands, and counts earlier outbreaks on each in 2013.
The Dutch travel-health center LCR reported no dengue on Saba, Sint Eustatius or Sint Maarten in 2026 through week 31, in an update last revised August 13. There is no CDC travel notice, and neither island is on CDC's global dengue list. RIVM says dengue occurs sporadically all year and that epidemics come in the rainy season, when Aedes aegypti numbers climb.
The CDC lists Zika for both islands, with past transmission and no current outbreak, so if you're pregnant, talk to a healthcare provider before the trip. The CDC recommends no malaria medicine or yellow fever vaccine, and Sint Eustatius requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only from travelers 6 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever risk.
Trails, dive days and your room
The climb up Mount Scenery, the hike into The Quill's crater and the dive boats are all daytime outings, which is when Aedes bite. Put repellent on over sunscreen in the morning, including for the walk to the dive shop, reapply after a dive or a sweaty climb, and again in the late afternoon. Our guide to how long repellent lasts helps you time it.
On Sint Eustatius, ask whether your room has screens or air conditioning. If it relies on open windows, check that the bed net is intact and use it. The island clinics have limited testing, and patients who need hospital care are referred to Sint Maarten Medical Center, so see a doctor early for a fever. Our after-bites guide covers the warning signs.
Where you're going
How the two islands compare for a December–April trip.
Saba: Windwardside, Mount Scenery & the marine park
The climb up Mount Scenery and dives in the marine park are daytime outings, so put repellent on before you set out. Saba had 25 confirmed and 5 probable dengue cases in 2024 and none reported in 2026 through week 31.
Sint Eustatius: Oranjestad, The Quill & the marine park
Statia had 48 confirmed and 74 probable cases in 2023, 21 confirmed and 29 probable in 2024, and none reported in 2026 through week 31. Spray before the hike into The Quill, and ask about screens or air conditioning when you book.
Adding Sint Maarten or comparing dive islands? Our St. Maarten and Bonaire briefings cover the beach sand flies there and Bonaire's low 2026 dengue.
The Saba & Statia kit
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless, 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 lightweight bed net for a Statia room that relies on open windows, in case the one provided is torn or missing.
What travelers report
Paraphrased from an older TripAdvisor trip report and linked so you can read it in full. It isn't dated, and it covers Saba only.
- Saba (general)
A trip report said Saba has few insects and no mosquitoes, crediting the guppies kept in each water cistern, and noted there were no window screens but the poster was never bothered by bugs while eating outdoors. This is an older thread. TripAdvisor ↗
One rule outlasts the trip. Any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were on Saba or Sint Eustatius.
Traveler questions
Is there dengue on Saba or Sint Eustatius now?
None was reported on either island in 2026 through week 31, according to the Dutch travel-health center LCR. Both had outbreaks recently. Statia had them in 2023 and 2024, and Saba in 2024, when 10 people were hospitalized. Before a December trip, check for any new public health notice, and wear repellent in the daytime, when the dengue mosquito bites.
Do I need malaria pills or vaccines for Saba and Statia?
The CDC lists no malaria on either island and recommends no malaria medicine. The yellow fever vaccine is not recommended, and you don't need proof of it when you fly in from the US. Both CDC pages list Zika, so pregnant travelers should talk to a healthcare provider before the trip.
Do I need repellent on a dive trip?
Yes, for the hours on land and on the boat. The Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue bite in daylight, so put repellent on over sunscreen before the walk to the dive shop, reapply after the last dive, and again in the late afternoon.
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.