Travel Health: Outbreak Protection Urged

A surge in dengue fever cases across the Pacific Islands is prompting New Zealand health officials to warn travellers about the increased risk of infection.More than 14,400 clinically diagnosed cases, including fatalities, have been reported in Samoa alone this year.

Pacific Dengue fever Outbreak: What Travellers Need to Know

With several island nations battling outbreaks, New Zealand is seeing a rise in imported cases, urging caution for those travelling to and from the region.

• American Samoa, the Cook Islands, kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, and Tuvalu are currently experiencing dengue outbreaks.
• To date, 86 people in New Zealand have contracted dengue, with 75 cases linked to travel to the Cook Islands.
• There is no dengue vaccine available in New Zealand, making preventative measures crucial for travellers.
• Individuals over 60 and children under 10 are at higher risk of severe illness.

Dengue fever, spread by infected mosquitoes, isn’t something you catch from another person, according to Dr.Matt Reid, a Public Health Medicine Specialist at the National Public Health Service. “That’s why people travelling to affected Pacific countries need to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and follow local public health advice,” he says.

Rising Cases Across the Pacific

Samoa’s ministry of Health has recorded over 14,400 clinically diagnosed dengue cases in 2025, with the DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes widely circulating. Nauru has reported more than 220 confirmed cases,including infections among children and at least two deaths. Early last year, the Cook Islands saw over 170 dengue cases on Rarotonga during its outbreak. american Samoa has also been grappling with an outbreak, declaring a public health emergency last July with hundreds of lab-confirmed cases.

Dengue symptoms can range from mild to severe, including high fever, intense headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and a rash. While many recover without hospitalization,severe dengue can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.

New Zealand doesn’t have mosquito species that can transmit dengue, but the increase in Pacific outbreaks is reflected in the number of imported cases.As of now, 86 people in New Zealand have contracted the virus, with 75 linked to travel in the Cook Islands.

Protecting Yourself from Dengue

Travellers can significantly reduce their risk of infection by taking preventative measures. These include:

• Using insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks, especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
• Staying in screened or air-conditioned accommodations.
• Using mosquito nets if sleeping outdoors.