International Travelers Bring Mosquito Transmitted Diseases to Florida

The Florida Department of Health (FDH) updated its Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Arbovirus Surveillance update #37, which revealed that both travel-related and locally acquired mosquito-transmitted diseases continue to be reported this year.

On September 13, 2025, FDH highlighted cases of Chikungunya, Dengue, and Malaria.

Chikungunya - eleven travel-related cases of chikungunya have been confirmed this year in Broward (4), Collier, Lake, Miami-Dade (2), Palm Beach, and Seminole (2). Countries of origin were: Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil (2), Cuba (2), India (2), Indonesia, and Sri Lanka (2).

Dengue Fever - In 2025, 198 cases of dengue fever were reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, with over 119 cases related to travelers from Cuba, and 13 from Puerto Rico. Additionally, 24 locally acquired dengue cases were reported in Hillsborough, Miami-Dade (3), Pasco (1), and Brevard (27) counties in 2025.

Malaria - 37 travel-related malaria cases have been confirmed in Florida, 13 related to travel to Nigeria.

As of September 2025, from a local disease risk perspective, Alachua, Bay, Clay, Duval, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Leon, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are under a mosquito-borne illness advisory. 

Brevard, Escambia, and Miami-Dade Counties remain under a mosquito-borne illness alert scheduled to expire in December 2025. 

Currently, the U.S. CDC and the UK have not issued travel advisories focused on visiting Florida in 2025.