Florida Travel Vaccines

Florida Travel Vaccines July 2025

The Florida Department of Health (FDH) updated its Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Surveillance Report in 2025, stating that although vaccinated individuals can still contract diseases, in general, those who have been immunized tend to have less severe outcomes than those who have never been vaccinated. FDH published its Arbovirus Surveillance update #26 on June 28, 2025, disclosing mosquito-borne diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, California encephalitis group viruses (CEV), Yellow fever, West Nile virus, and Rift Valley fever.

Florida Mosquito Advisories 

In Florida, 14 species of Anopheles mosquitoes have been identified as vectors of infectious diseases that transmit to humans. As of July 22025, Miami-Dade County remains under a mosquito-borne illness alert scheduled to expire in December 2025, and St. Johns County and DOH-Brevard have Issued Mosquito-Borne Illness Advisories in 2025.

Local health departments covering Jacksonville, Tampa, and Palm Beach publish county-based news. On May 1, 2025, Broward County launched a mosquito-reducing initiative. 

Florida Travel Vaccination Requirements

As of July 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Canada, and the United Kingdom have not issued vaccination requirements for visiting Florida. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have not issued travel advisories for visiting Florida in 2025.

Florida Disease Outbreaks 2025

Chikungunya - As of July 2025, four travel-related cases of chikungunya have been confirmed. The countries of origin were Bolivia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Eleven instances of chikungunya onset in 2024 were reported in individuals with a travel history to Brazil (five), India (five), and Pakistan. Four travel-related Chikungunya cases were reported in 2023, and one case was reported in 2022. Florida counties reporting chikungunya cases were Broward, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, and Hillsborough. Florida providers have limited access to Chikungunya virus diagnosis tests, which are often mistaken for Dengue. However, Chikungunya vaccines are offered in Florida.

Chagas Disease - Researchers from the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute and Texas A&M University have discovered that local kissing bugs are harboring the parasite that can lead to Chagas disease, demonstrating that this rare, chronic disease has a secure foothold in 23 Florida counties particularly in northern and central Florida, and warrants more preventative measures.

Dengue Fever - In 2025, 98 cases of dengue fever were reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, with 45 cases of DENV-4 from Cuba. Additionally, three locally acquired dengue cases (DEN-3, DENV-4) were reported in Miami-Dade (2) and Brevard (1) counties in 2025.. As of December 2024, 1,016 travel-associated dengue cases had been reported, primarily among travelers from Brazil, Cuba (567), and Puerto Rico. In 2024, 91 locally acquired dengue cases were reported from ten counties (Miami-Dade (50), Hillsborough (Tampa), Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Pasco (13), and Broward. Most dengue cases are serotyped as DENV-3 (396) and DENV-4. In 2023, 609 travel-associated dengue cases were reported, and 186 people contracted Dengue while in Florida.

Leprosy - Florida reports the most cases of leprosy (Hansen's disease) in the U.S., with the majority typically occurring in Brevard County, which accounted for 13% of the nation's 159 leprosy cases in 2020. There are no U.S. FDA vaccines for leprosy. However, BCG vaccination offers some protection against the disease.

Malaria - As of June 2025, 20 travel-related malaria cases have been confirmed in Florida. In 2024, 72 cases of travel-related malaria were reported in individuals with a history of visiting malaria-endemic areas, such as Africa (Nigeria) and Central and South America. In 2023, seven locally acquired malaria cases were reported near Sarasota, along with 78 malaria cases related to travel. The U.S. CDC published a report on September 8, 2023, Outbreak of Locally Acquired Mosquito-Transmitted Malaria.

Measles - The Florida Department of Health in Broward County confirmed about ten measles cases in early 2024.

Mpox - Since the beginning of 2024, Florida has identified 184 cases of mpox across 12 counties. In 2023, the CDC reported 75 clade II mpox cases in Florida. The JYNNEOS vaccine is offered in Florida at clinics and pharmacies.

Oropouche Fever - As of December 2024, 103 cases of Oropouche fever had been reported in individuals who had traveled to an endemic area, such as Cuba. The Florida counties reporting cases were Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade (61), Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Polk, and Sarasota.

Rabies - The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County issued a rabies alert in response to a confirmed case of rabies in a horse tested on March 26, 2025.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - The Florida Department of Health confirmed RSV cases in most regions during 2024-2025. As of June 28, 2025, RSV detections have been confirmed along Florida's southeast coast, which includes Miami and West Palm Beach, as well as on the west coast, including Ft Myers.

Vibrio vulnificus - Florida reported 83 cases (18 in Pinellas County) and 18 fatalities in 2024. In 2022, 74 cases and 17 deaths were confirmed in Florida. Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in warm, brackish seawater.

West Nile Virus - In 2024, eighteen human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) illness were reported in Florida. Seven positive samples were confirmed from seven humans in 2023. Six WNV-positive samples were collected from six humans in 2022. Ten human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) were reported in Florida in 2021.

Zika Fever - In 2025 and 2024, no cases of Zika fever were reported. Zika continues to be detected off Florida's east coast, in Puerto Rico, and other locations throughout the Americas, including Costa Rica.

Disease-Spreading Mosquito Prevention in Florida

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control-Oxitec Mosquito Project began in April 2021. It releases and evaluates the effectiveness of Oxitec's Friendly™ Aedes aegypti mosquitoes as disease-carrying vectors. In the three pilot seasons, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District and Oxitec have demonstrated that Oxitec's non-biting, male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can reduce the local abundance of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, reducing the risk of dengue and malaria infection. These male mosquito releases followed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's approval in March 2022.

Vaccine News 2025

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