Tuvalu's latest dengue outbreak was declared in June 2025. Plan on daytime repellent on Funafuti.
- No CDC travel notice for mosquito-borne disease
Tuvalu's Department of Health declared the outbreak on June 5, 2025, after earlier ones in 2014 and 2019. The World Health Organization's Pacific charts show nothing reported from Tuvalu so far in 2026, and there is no malaria. For a work trip or a family visit, the routine is repellent through the day, a screened or air-conditioned room and a check for any new outbreak before you fly.
Are there mosquitoes in Tuvalu? Yes, including the day-biting Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue, and Tuvalu has had dengue outbreaks in 2014, 2019 and 2025. The most recent was declared on June 5, 2025. There is no malaria, so for most visitors, who come for government, aid or business work on Fongafale, the plan is a daytime repellent habit and a well-chosen room.
The 2025 outbreak and after
Tuvalu's Department of Health declared a dengue outbreak on June 5, 2025, caused by the type 2 virus. The World Health Organization's Western Pacific office later listed Tuvalu among nine Pacific countries that officially declared dengue outbreaks in 2025. Its charts show dengue-like illness peaking in September 2025 and no reports from Tuvalu in 2026 through early October. A blank chart can also mean late reporting, so check the Pacific epidemic alert maps or the Department of Health before you go.
All three outbreaks centered on crowded Fongafale, the capital islet. There is no CDC travel notice, and Tuvalu isn't on CDC's global dengue list.
A daytime routine on Funafuti
Aedes mosquitoes bite in daylight, with peaks after sunrise and in the late afternoon, and they breed in water containers around homes. Put repellent on over sunscreen in the morning and again in the late afternoon. Choose a room with screens or air conditioning, and bring a bed net or ask for one if it has neither. Our dengue & Zika routine has the full schedule.
CDC's Zika page lists Tuvalu as having the mosquito that spreads Zika but no reported cases, and for those places it tells pregnant travelers to "Prevent mosquito bites during and after travel." CDC also lists leptospirosis, so stay out of floodwater.
When to go
Tuvalu's dengue doesn't keep a tidy calendar. The 2025 outbreak began in June and peaked in September, outside the wet season, which runs roughly November to April. The best time is any stretch with no outbreak declared, and the hardest is the months right after a declaration. Hospital care is limited, so a work trip during an outbreak calls for the strictest routine.
Where you're going
Fongafale & Vaiaku
The capital islet, with the airstrip, government offices and the few hotels, and where Tuvalu's dengue outbreaks have centered. Wear repellent through the day and pick a screened or air-conditioned room.
Funafuti Conservation Area
Small reef islets reached by boat for snorkeling and picnics, away from the crowded houses where Aedes tend to breed. Bites are likely fewer, so a coat of repellent before the boat ride covers it.
Adding Fiji or Kiribati? Our Fiji and Kiribati briefings cover their recent dengue pictures.
The Tuvalu kit
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless in the heat, layers over sunscreen and quick to reapply. One 3.4 oz bottle covers about a week of daily use for one person.
- A full-size backup in the checked bag for a stay longer than a week.
- A lightweight bed net if your room has no screens or air conditioning.
One rule outlasts the trip. Any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Tuvalu, especially 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 a dengue outbreak in Tuvalu now?
Tuvalu declared a dengue outbreak on June 5, 2025, and the World Health Organization's Pacific charts show no dengue-like illness reported from Tuvalu in 2026 through early October. It isn't clear whether the 2025 outbreak was formally declared over, and a blank chart can also mean late reporting. Check the Pacific epidemic alert maps or Tuvalu's Department of Health before you fly.
Do I need malaria pills or vaccines for Tuvalu?
No. The CDC lists no malaria in Tuvalu and recommends no malaria medicine. The yellow fever vaccine is not recommended, and no vaccine is required for entry.
Are the conservation area islets less buggy than Fongafale?
They're likely to be. The small reef islets of the Funafuti Conservation Area sit away from the crowded houses and water containers where Aedes breed, while Tuvalu's dengue outbreaks have centered on Fongafale. Put repellent on before the boat ride and again after snorkeling, and save the stricter routine for days on Fongafale.
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.