Tonga's Dengue Fever Outbreak Could Curtail Tourism

According to a recent International Visitors Survey, the Kingdom of Tonga has become a preferred destination in Polynesia. Visitor satisfaction was highly ranked, with the friendly local population, water-based attractions, and cultural activities ranking very well.

However, a mosquito-transmitted disease may curtail tourism.

Tonga's government today reported a significant increase in dengue fever cases with 30 additional new cases.

As of March 5, 2025, there have been 129 dengue cases this year.

With 45 inhabited islands, the majority of dengue cases were from Vava'u (63), the rest from Tongatapu (47) and 'Eua (19).

Tonga's Ministry of Health (MOH) says dengue Virus Type 2 (DENV-2) is responsible for the current outbreak.

This dengue outbreak subtype is different from DEN-3, which is the dominant case in the region of the Americas, including in Florida and Puerto Rica.

The MOH recommends that residents and visitors wear appropriate clothing to minimize mosquito bites, use mosquito nets and repellents such as lotion and spray, and if you are sick, watch out for severe symptoms and seek medical attention immediately.

While the U.S. CDC does not recommend getting an approved dengue vaccine, it does support various routine and travel vaccines before visiting Tonga in 2025.