Mosquitoes in Samoa: Dengue Outbreak, Beach Fales & Savai'i (2026)

The health ministry counted 19,482 clinically diagnosed cases and 9 deaths by June 2026, most on Upolu, before weekly cases fell from July. A December–April trip falls in the wet season, so plan on daytime repellent and an intact net in any open beach fale.

Are there mosquitoes in Samoa? Yes, including the day-biting Aedes behind a very large dengue outbreak that began in April 2025. Weekly cases fell sharply from July 2026, and there is no malaria. For a winter trip, the routine is daytime repellent and, in an open beach fale, a bed net without holes. This briefing covers the independent country of Samoa, not the US territory of American Samoa.

Disease risk ModerateA very large dengue outbreak since April 2025 faded from July 2026, with no end declaration reported; CDC also lists Zika, and there is no malaria.

Bite nuisance NoticeableOpen beach fales on Upolu's coast and on Savai'i tend to be buggy at night, while screened or air-conditioned rooms fare better.

CirculatingDengue (outbreak since Apr 2025)Zika (CDC: no outbreak)No malariaNo CDC travel noticeNo yellow fever vaccine from the US

CDC noticesNo country-specific notice for mosquito-borne disease

Dec–Apr tripsDecember to April is the wet season. In 2026, dengue ran well above normal from mid-February to mid-June before fading in July, so check the Ministry of Health's latest dengue report before you fly.

Data checkedOctober 2026 · sources

The dengue outbreak since April 2025

Samoa's Ministry of Health declared a dengue outbreak on April 17, 2025. Its June 1, 2026 situation report counted 19,482 clinically diagnosed and 5,475 laboratory-confirmed cases since January 2025, with 9 deaths. Most cases were on Upolu, home to Apia. The World Health Organization's Pacific surveillance shows two waves. Weekly reports of dengue-like illness peaked close to 2,000 in early August 2025, ran well above normal again from mid-February to mid-June 2026, and fell to a few dozen a week from July.

The ministry declares an outbreak over after 28 days with no new laboratory-confirmed case. A Pacific alert summary in late July 2026 said the dengue alert was still in effect, and Samoa has no CDC travel notice and isn't on the CDC's global dengue list. The outbreak hasn't kept to one season, and 2026's heaviest months overlapped with the wet season, which tends to run from about November to April. Check the ministry's latest dengue situation report, and whether the outbreak has been declared over, the week before you fly.

Aedes mosquitoes bite in daylight, with peaks after sunrise and in the late afternoon. In Apia, in villages and on the beach, put repellent on over sunscreen in the morning, again after swimming and before sunset. Our dengue & Zika routine has the full schedule. The CDC also lists Zika for Samoa, with no current outbreak, so if you're pregnant, talk to a healthcare provider before the trip.

Beach fales, Apia and Savai'i

Open-sided beach fales on Upolu's south and east coasts, around Lalomanu, and on Savai'i tend to be the buggiest places to sleep. Most rely on a bed net. Check yours for holes as soon as you arrive, tuck it in and use it every night, and put repellent on before dinner. Screened or air-conditioned rooms in Apia and at resorts fare better after dark. The dengue mosquito bites by day wherever you sleep, so the morning routine holds either way.

The CDC also lists leptospirosis, which isn't spread by insects. Avoid floodwater and wading in fresh water or mud.

Where you're going

How Apia, the Upolu fales and Savai'i compare for a December–April trip.

city

Apia

Disease risk ElevatedBite nuisance Occasional

On Upolu, where most of the outbreak's cases were. Town gardens and yards are dengue mosquito habitat, so daytime repellent applies in town, and screens or air conditioning cut the night bites.

beach

Lalomanu & Upolu's beach fales

Disease risk ElevatedBite nuisance Noticeable

Open-sided fales rely on bed nets. Check yours for holes on arrival, tuck it in every night and put repellent on in the evening.

island

Savai'i

Disease risk ModerateBite nuisance Noticeable

A smaller share of the outbreak's cases than Upolu. Beach properties here tend to be buggy at night, so the net check matters as much as on Upolu.

Adding another island nation? Our Fiji and Cook Islands briefings cover their dengue picture.

The Samoa kit

Spray for the day, a sound net for the night.

Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless in the heat, layers over sunscreen and easy to reapply after a swim at Lalomanu. 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'd rather not depend on the one in your fale.

Carry-on trio → 8 oz backup → Full rankings

What travelers report

Paraphrased from TripAdvisor reviews of two Savai'i beach properties and linked so you can read them in full. Neither is dated, and conditions vary from one fale to the next.

Lauiula Beach Club, Savai'i · night
A reviewer who could not recommend the property reported bugs and mosquitoes everywhere at night. TripAdvisor ↗
Satuiatua Beach Resort, Savai'i · night
A guest on this review page said the mosquito net had many holes that nobody fixed, and they got many bites inside the net. TripAdvisor ↗

One rule outlasts the trip. Any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Samoa, 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 Samoa's dengue outbreak over?

It has faded sharply, but the latest published reports don't show it declared over. Samoa's Ministry of Health declared the outbreak in April 2025 and counted 19,482 clinically diagnosed cases and 9 deaths by June 2026. Weekly reports fell to a few dozen from July 2026, according to the World Health Organization's Pacific surveillance. The ministry declares an outbreak over after 28 days with no new laboratory-confirmed case, so check its latest dengue situation report before you fly.

Do beach fales have mosquitoes?

At night, they tend to. Open-sided fales rely on bed nets, and they tend to be buggier after dark than screened rooms. Check the net for holes when you arrive, tuck it in and use it every night, and put repellent on before dinner. The dengue mosquito bites by day, so the morning routine applies wherever you sleep.

Do I need malaria pills or a yellow fever vaccine for Samoa?

The CDC lists no malaria for Samoa and recommends no malaria medicine. The yellow fever vaccine isn't recommended, and you don't need proof of it flying directly from the US. Samoa does require it from travelers 1 year or older arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport transits or layovers of more than 12 hours there.

Is it safe to visit Samoa while pregnant?

The CDC lists Zika for Samoa, as an area with current or past transmission and no current outbreak. Zika can pass from a pregnant woman to her baby, so talk to 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.

Samoa's big dengue outbreak has faded. Check its status before a winter trip.